I teach at an all-boys boarding school for grades 7-12. I have been teaching for six years now and seem to get sick quite often. I have a few rules of thumb to avoid getting sick, but obviously its not working very well for me.... My strategies to avoid sickness are: 1) Wash hands and use hand sanitizer throughout the day. 2) get plenty of rest 3) eat properly (i'm kind of a hippy...so i eat relatively healthy) 4) drink EMERGEN-C powdered drink when I start to feel like i'm getting sick. 5) I'm always prepared for lessons... I ALMOST never get caught by surprise ANY OTHER IDEAS FOR AVOIDING GETTING SICK AT SCHOOL? I love this community of online teachers... Any advice is appreciated. Thanks, -4capulina :help: PS: I'm out sick today. LOL.
Don't let the students touch your pens or pencils. Clean your desk every day with antibacterial cleanser. Open the window in the classroom, if possible.
Have your own box of tissue no one else is allowed to use. I keep chewable Airborne in my car and take it every time I get in. I clean the door and cupboard handles, and anything else touched regularly - at least once a week. I wash my hands as soon as the kids leave. I disinfect the tables daily (or more).
Add exercise as well. Within a few years, you will be immune to all this illness. First couple of years, I got sick a lot as a teacher, now I almost never get sick. Trust me, the students' hygiene hasn't gotten any better.
I use Lysol on the desks every so often and especially if a student is sick. I use the spray kind because the wipes don't kill viruses like the norovirus (tummy bug). Wash hands before I leave and before lunch Change clothes when I get home. Doing my best to stand back from students who say they aren't feeling well. Though sometimes that's hard because they will com right up close and say "my tummy hurts" *cough, cough*
I'm generally pretty healthy. My illnesses are typically not contagious kinds of things. Here's what I do. keep my own supplies the kids don't use drink lots of fluids exercise watch my overall health eat right wash hands often have kids clean their desks keep hands away from my face change clothes when I get home I don't use sanitizer or antibacterial/anti microbial products very often.
Take care of yourself, everything everyone else has said. I also do an herbal cleanse every 3-4 months, and I swear by it. There are many out there, but here's the one I do: Herbal Cleanse
I think probiotics are a big help, I use them and I give them to my kids and I notice a lot fewer stomach virus issues and fewer respiratory issues (the cold and respiaratory part doesn't have a lot of studies, but so far they look good). Keep your hands our of your face. Tran yourself to not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth unless you've washed your hands. Wash your hands and change clothes when you get home.
