Many people have heard about the colds and sicknesses that dominate the winter season. But do they really take precaution?
Walking around the Winston-Salem State University campus, there are many people who wear short-sleeves shirts, long sleeve shirts without a jacket, and flip-flops or sandals instead of a pair of boots or tennis shoes.
Are the dangers of the winter season taken seriously?
“People who don’t wear the proper clothes for the holidays are just stupid. Even when there is a little sun outside, it’s still very unsafe to wear improper clothing,” said Allen Lockhart, a junior.
Some people do not seriously take heed to the dangers and it could be because they are not educated about the different types of seasonal colds. The most talked about illnessthat occurs mainly during the winter season is the flu. Influenza refers toseveral common strains of flu virus that go around each year in the fall and winter seasons.
A flu pandemic is described as a new flu strain that starts spreading easily and quickly around the world. Depending on the strength of the strain, it can cause many people toget sick at once, causing severe illness and many deaths.
The pandemic flu has not occurred yet, but in all cases people generally want to prevent it from happening. If a pandemic flu were to hit the world, many would die because it would take a long time to develop a vaccination.
“What we need to be concerned about is what we call the seasonal flu,” said Nurse Ester Joe, who works in the Student Health Services in the A. H. Ray Student Health Center. “Flu season generally lasts until the end of March and the first part of April, but you can still get it after that.”
Symptoms of the seasonal flu include fever, chills, headache, body aches, sore throat, coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath.
“The main thing to do to prevent the flu is wash your hands,” Joe said.
Other preventative methods include covering your coughs and sneezes, acting responsibly if you get sick, getting available flu shots, thoroughly cooking meats, poultry and eggs, and supporting common good efforts.
Common Good efforts are steps that the government has put in place in the event a pandemic flu breaks out.
“Remember to wash your hands,” Joe repeated. She recommends scrubbing hands and wrists for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. Also, try to keep hand sanitizer with you.
If you feel you have flu symptoms, make your way immediately to the A. H. Ray Student Health Center.
“Students should know we are always here for them, even after hours,” Joe said. She pointed out that after the Health Center closes, students can call 888-267-3675 to talk to a nurse on duty. “The nurse will listen to your symptoms and tell you what you should do,” Joe said.
For more information on preventing the bird flu, flu pandemic, seasonal flu or other services provided by the health center, call 336-750-3300.