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With fall fast approaching and the dangers of COVID-19 growing quickly in America, staying safe in a school environment may seem impossible. Many of us have no say in whether or not we are returning to in-person school. The situation becomes even direr when we consider that we have friends and family that might be at higher risk if they were to contract the virus. Thus making the issue of staying safe at school even more crucial. However, not all is lost. There are still a myriad of things you can do to ensure your safety and the safety of those around during this upcoming school year.
Masks/ Face Coverings
According to the CDC, one of the most efficient ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to ensure that you are wearing a face-covering of some sort every time you find yourself in a public setting. Although the mask doesn’t necessarily prevent a person from contracting the virus they do stop the person wearing them from spreading the virus to others. So much like herd immunity, if everyone is wearing a mask that can ensure that no one will be infected. There are many different types of masks that you can use to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you
Types of Masks
Cloth Masks - these masks have become extremely popular due to their reusable factor, and their cute designs. However, they are not very effective when it comes to keeping you and those around you safe. They are 0% effective when it comes to viruses and only 50% effective for bacteria, pollen, and dust.
Surgical Mask - these masks are used in a medical setting which makes them more equipped to handle a situation such as this. They do a much better job of keeping you safe than a cloth mask. They are 95% effective when it comes to a virus and 80% effective for bacteria, pollen, and dust.
N95 Masks - this type of mask is by far the best to keep yourself and others safe. The N95 mask is specifically used by healthcare professionals to prevent infection. They are 95% effective with viruses and 100% effective with bacteria, pollen, and dust.
Masks w/ Respirators - Masks that have respirators can be effective to protect yourself depending on the material that they are made of. However, they are not effective for the public. If you were to be infected and you were wearing a respirator mask you could still spread the virus to others.
Handwashing and Hand Sanitizer
We have all been briefed on the importance of handwashing from a young age, but now that we are in the middle of a pandemic it’s important that we have a refresher course and that we remember to do it more frequently. Especially when you are attending school (a high-risk area) you must remember to do it far more frequently and be conscious of what and who you touch while at school in order to minimize infection. When washing your hands do it for at least the length of the happy birthday song, roughly 20 seconds, but longer if you have the time. If you do not have the ability to wash your hand often then invest in a quality medical grade hand sanitizer and make sure to use it periodically.
Social Distance
This is perhaps the hardest one to achieve in a school setting, but it’s still important to keep in mind. Try to keep a healthy distance from people at all times if at all possible. In the hallways, try to get to your class as soon as possible or take a less crowded route. When you arrive in your class try to sit in a seat with ample room from you to another person.
Stay Safe
As we begin to return to school, we must be mindful of those around us. We must try our hardest and put in the effort to help defuse the situation. We must be hopeful that if we take the rightful precautions we can return to normal as soon as possible.
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