Sick Etiquette: The “How To” on being a thoughtful sick student

Attending a small school, of say 1,800 students, has its benefits. It promotes a tight knit community, fosters substantive student teacher relationships, and gives you the opportunity to be a big fish in a small pond. Although we at small colleges across the nation would like to think that the endless list of pros about our schools is untainted, that is not the case. While students at small schools are known to exchange waves, smiles, and phone numbers they’re also exchanging germs. A small campus like Eckerd is the perfect breeding ground for illnesses like mononucleosis, the flu, and conjunctivitis (just to name a few frequent, repeat offenders). As a student with a weak immune system who is a frequent patient at the Walgreens Take Care Clinic, I know what it is like to be sick during a crazy semester and know how to be a courteous sick student on a small campus. Take a look at my five basic sick etiquette steps and let’s work together to make Eckerd a healthier campus.
 
Okay, so you’ve unfortunately gone and done it. You’ve gotten sick. It doesn’t matter that you have a 25 page research paper due, a Spanish quiz on Friday and lab all day Wednesday, sick doesn’t discriminate. From the busiest to the laziest, sick affects everyone. Now don’t feel too bad because this isn’t entirely your fault. Another individual who too was infected by sickness was careless about their illness and now you have to suffer. But being the thoughtful collegiette that you and I both know you are, you will do your best to make sure no one else experiences the pain and suffering that you are by subscribing to proper sick etiquette measures.

      1. Give proper warning.

If you wake up on Tuesday morning with glands the size of tennis balls and you’re uncontrollably sneezing, you definitely have the beginning signs of some sort of sickness. While you’re still well enough to make it to class, do not let your ailment go unknown. Perhaps you and your seat neighbor share each other’s new tea flavors in your 8:30 a.m. ConLaw class. Don’t. Give your friends and classroom acquaintances fair warning that you’re not feeling 100% and that they should be advised to keep their distance.
  

   2. Be prepared.

Always be prepared to handle your sickness and any cleanup required for your symptoms. Carry hand sanitizer at all times. There are different varieties of travel-sized sanitizers, some that even go on your key chain! This gives you no excuse for not being constantly sanitized and able to keep your germy hands from infecting your desk or the doorknob that would lead to an unnecessary sickness of another unsuspecting student. Along with sanitizer, you can also add travel tissues and mini disinfecting wipes in your “to go” sick etiquette kit.
  
   3. Go to the doctor.

So it’s been a week now and despite your mind over matter tricks and willing yourself to get better, you’re not. You’ve actually gotten worse. I know not everyone is a fan of the white walls and men and women with stethoscopes, but for the sake of your fellow classmates and yourself – go to the doctor. If you’re a native of the state you go to school in, contact your family doctor. If you do not have a doctor in the state you go to school in, reach out to your health services department by setting up an appointment either online, through a phone service or in person. If your health services department is less than pleasant to deal with, fear not! You have options. Two popular convenient stores CVS and Walgreens, have both created walk-in clinics in many of their store locations. Both the CVS Minute Clinic and the Walgreens Take Care Clinic are covered by many different health insurance agencies and go out of their way to make sure us college kids have to pay as little as possible. They are convenient and the location nearest you is just one Google search away!
  
   4. Quarantine yourself.

A little quarantine never hurt anyone. In fact, it helped! Once you have returned from the doctor’s office and you know that the news was not quite what you wanted to hear, you must make the conscious decision to stay out of people’s way. This especially goes for students who have been diagnosed with highly contagious illnesses such as conjunctivitis, mononucleosis, or the influenza virus. Avoid places like the caf, the pub, the library, class, etc. You have friends that will bring you food and will get you the notes. I know we’re all busy and hate to miss anything and everything, but this is a necessary precautionary measure. Use this time to rest, build up strength, and catch up on the Gossip Girl episodes you missed a few weeks ago. Your body will thank you for this and so will your classmates.
  

   5. Slow and steady wins the race.

Once you’re feeling better after a few days of R&R, take it slow. Drink lots of water and keep up with the hand sanitizing. When coughing, don’t use your hands. Make sure you always cough into your elbow. Use your travel tissues when you’re about to sneeze. Don’t rush back into the full swing of things. Give your body time to adjust back into the “real world” and, although you might be feeling better, you still need to be cautious of the potential germs you might be spreading to your friends and fellow classmates.