Back-to-School: How Teens Can Stay Safe During COVID-19
Is it ok for you to be nervous and stressed about going back to school during the COVID-19 pandemic? Of course! I mean, why wouldn’t you be?
And I’m sure some of you are wondering: “Why are they even trying to open schools again?!”
Until now, going back to school has been exciting for parents and kids. Each year it’s like starting a new adventure. You get new teachers, new classes, and new friends. But all that newness is surrounded by the security of normalcy.
Thanks to the COVID-19 Pandemic, everyone is worried about health and safety while attending school. Social-distancing is the best step in combating the disease, and having kids returning to school is confusing because it goes against this safety precaution.
If you’re going back to school and worried about COVID-19, keep reading. I’m going to walk you through seven steps to take that can help keep you safe.
1 Stay Up to Date on What’s Going On
Watching the news every day to stay up-to-date on the pandemic is a good way to start. Sure, it can bore you to death to watch, but it’s important to do it. If you don’t want to watch the news, you can always download apps and sign up for notifications on COVID-19.
* A word of caution here: try not to spend too much time reading the news. All the information can get quickly overwhelming. Inundating yourself with pandemic-related news stories can also lead to depression and anxiety. So check each day, but set strong limits on how much you consume.
2 Follow the CDC Guidelines
The CDC guidelines are straightforward on protecting yourself from Covid-19. If you haven’t been following them, then now is the perfect time to start. Here are the guidelines you should follow:
- Know how it spreads: COVID-19 is airborne and is spread through sneezing, coughing, and talking during close contact, which is why it’s important to stay 6 ft or more away from others and cover your face.
- Wash your hands: Make it a habit to wash your hands as often as you can! If you can’t wash your hands, use an FDA-approved hand sanitizer.
- Clean, highly touched surfaces: But wait, that’s the adult’s job! Usually, it is, but if you want to stay safe, then it may be a good idea to carry a bottle of Lysol aerosol or wipes around with you at all times. Wipe down surfaces you touch daily: your phone, your keys, your bedroom doorknob, etc.
3 Look for Signs of COVID-19
Symptoms of COVID-19 appear between 2- 14 days after exposure. Symptoms to look out for are:
- Fever or chills
- Dry cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Strange rash on your feet, especially your toes
If you experience any of the following symptoms or become sick, it is important to follow these CDC Guidelines.
4 Wear Your Mask
Wearing a mask for eight hours a day is annoying. No one enjoys wearing them; it’s awkward and uncomfortable. I don’t even like wearing them for 5 minutes while shopping at the store.
But everyone must keep their MASKS ON! When someone sneezes or coughs, or even speaks, droplets that can contain the virus become airborne. If you’re not wearing a mask, you are at risk of breathing in the virus. If you can’t stay 6-feet apart, wear a mask, especially when you are inside with other people.
5 Practice Social Distancing
Is it a good idea to continue hanging out with your friends? What about sports and other after-school activities? No.
I get it! You’re young and want to get out of the house. Though during the pandemic, it may not be a good idea. Stay home as much as you can. It may not always be fun to do, but it’s the safest action to take.
There are plenty of options available to stay in contact with your friends from school. This is when social media comes into handy. But… What about school hallways, pep rallies, and buses?
The best advice I can share with you is to stay away from large crowds and stay 6ft away from everyone. Yes, I know this can be hard to do if there are 600 people or more at your school.
If you can’t practice, social-distancing consider staying away from large events. The more you stay far away from others, the safer you are. And wear your mask!
6 Listen to the School Administration
I’m sure the school administration has set guidelines for the students to follow. Listening to the rules may sound silly to you, but you need to follow them.
COVID-19 test screenings, wearing masks, and staying 6 ft away from others is a challenge, and hopefully, your school will put forth guidelines for you and your classmates to follow. Be sure to LISTEN!
A word of caution here: if your school has no safety guidelines in place, isn’t following CDC recommendations, is not requiring masks or social-distancing, and is still allowing for large gatherings, SPEAK UP! Your health and your family’s health care on the line. If your school isn’t a safe place for you and your classmates, cause a stir about it. Protest, confront administrators, and if necessary, walk-out. Do what you have to to stay safe; sometimes, that means not following the rules.
7 Attend an Online School
Honestly, this is the best option for everyone to stay safe. I don’t understand why they are opening up school right now. If you’re worried about going back to school during this pandemic, then I suggest staying at home to do online schooling if it’s accessible to you.
Remember, it’s the year 2021, not 1980! There are plenty of ways to stay in touch with your friends from school.
Now, your turn
What are some ways you are staying safe at school? Does this pandemic worry you at all? Do you have any questions?
