At Rensselaer, taking exams
is probably one of the most difficult
things we do. When they
are handed out, they sit on our
desks—staring blankly—and
mockingly dare us to color them
with answers. However, washing
your hands is not as difficult.
Imagine how many people we
could prevent from falling ill if
we all took the time to wash our
hands after using the bathroom.
Rensselaer would be a much safer
campus. Although it may seem
like a very difficult task, it can
save many people from a weekend
of nose-blowing, painful coughing,
and incessant sneezing.
According to weather.com, the
New York area has seen a widespread
outbreak of the influenza
virus, more commonly known as
the flu. This virus is accompanied by
many different cold-like symptoms.
The many medicinal advances of
today include, but are not limited
to, portable hand sanitizers. While
using hand sanitizers may seem as
tedious as washing your hands, it
goes a long way in keeping up a
healthy campus. Germs that carry
viruses do not discriminate. They
don’t care if you have an exam,
dance performance, or job interview
the following day. If they
find an opening, they will invite
themselves inside to infect you
with their nasty side effects that
they bring along. Here are some
basic steps that you can take to
prevent yourself from getting sick
and being forced to stay inside on
a beautiful weekend.
First and foremost, of course, is
wash your hands. When someone
who has a cold or the flu sneezes
into their hand and touches a keyboard
in the library or a telephone,
the germs are very likely to attach
themselves to the surfaces. Since
germs can live on surfaces for
weeks, the possibility of them finding
their next victim in that given
amount of time is highly probable.
Cold and flu viruses enter your
body through the eyes, nose, or
mouth. If you suspect that you have
touched a contaminated surface,
try not to constantly touch your
face. Drinking plenty of fluids and
getting a daily dose of fresh air are
also great ways to keep healthy and
prevent viruses from infiltrating
your system. Taking these small
tips can improve your immunity
and prevent unexpected attacks on
your system.
Although at Rensselaer taking
these small precautions may
seem tedious due to the many
projects, exams, and papers that
we are given over the course of
the semester, if we all take small
steps toward keeping a healthy
campus, we can prevent cold and
flu viruses from rearing their ugly
heads during times when they are
extremely unneeded.
