It’s cold and flu season, and with the help of school nurse, Kerry Coryell, students can stay healthy and caught up in school.
Coryell has been working at SJHHS for the past nine years providing care to students.
“A friend of mine was a school nurse and she was like, ‘you should try it.’ I wanted to eventually be in the emergency room, but I fell in love with this job. I’ve been here ever since,” said Coryell.
Viruses like influenza A and B, semi flu, and the norovirus have been infecting the halls of SJHHS. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and food-borne illness. It is highly contagious and affects all ages. Its symptoms are often confused for the stomach flu or bug. Nurse Kerry recommends tips and tricks to stay healthy during flu season.
“During flu season, it tends to get a little busier with kids having colds and flu and this year we have some extraordinarily strong or rough viruses,” said Coryell.
Although it’s impossible to completely prevent the spread of viruses like the common-cold and other respiratory viruses, Coryell most recommended staying home when early symptoms occur. According to Piedmont Healthcare you are generally worse and more infectious in the beginning of illness.
“Right when your symptoms start is when you are most contagious, but you don’t know that you’re fully sick at that time, so when your symptoms come on, stay home,” said Coryell.
Coryell recommends implementing old habits that were used to prevent COVID-19 to prevent current viruses and flus. Habits like tedious hand washing, social distancing and wearing masks have been forgotten since COVID-19.
“I recommend frequent hand washing. It’s kind of like we just go right back to what we did for COVID. Frequent hand washing. You could wear a mask. If you do have symptoms and you’re insisting on coming to school, wear a mask. Wipe your desk off with a sanitizing wipe, and wipe your commonly touched items off with sanitizing wipes. And just don’t get too close to your friends, especially if they’re coughing, sneezing, blowing their nose,” said Coryell.
With school coming to an end, midterms, AP testing, and finals are right around the corner. It is crucial for students to stay healthy and maintain attendance and end the school year strong.
