Don’t worry; none of my tips involve wearing a face mask! This post was inspired by Linda, a fellow music therapist who sent the following question in an email yesterday:
I was wondering if you could write one day about how you stay healthy when working with so many students. I began working with over a hundred kids this school year and have already been on antibiotics twice for upper respiratory infections and had the stomach flu. I clean my instruments after each use with antibiotic wipes and wash my hands constantly. Aside from wearing rubber gloves and a face mask, I’m not sure what to do. Do you have any suggestions?
Oh boy, Linda. I have been there and done that! In fact, I spent my internship — the first time I’d been exposed to many children on a daily basis — sick as a dog. We’re talking flu, sinus infections, pink eye, bronchitis…you name it, I had it at one point during those nine months.
And since I came right out of my internship into a job at a school working with over 120 children every week, I knew I needed to come up with better methods of self-defense against all those germs. There’s no single guaranteed method for avoiding sickness when you work in such an environment, but here are a few I’ve come to swear by:
- Get a flu shot. This may seem like a “duh!” statement, but I wouldn’t be surprised if half the people reading this do not make a habit of getting a yearly flu shot. My former workplace provided flu shots to all of its employees, so I was always first in line to get one. This year I’m on my own, but planning to get my shot before the week is over. It can be unpleasant, but avoiding 4 days (or more) of pure misery is worth having a sore arm for a day.
- Emergen-C. I keep multiple boxes of this Vitamin C-packed drink mix stashed in my kitchen. Anytime I feel a cold coming on, I stir a packet into a glass of water and repeat throughout the next couple of days. It doesn’t taste amazing, but it is effective!
- Stock up on antibacterial gel. There are multiple pump bottles of this stuff throughout my studio — on my desk, next to my piano, in my instrument closet — because I dive for it anytime I see a student touch his or her nose or mouth. I also try to make a habit of having students rub their hands down before touching the piano or any other instrument.
- Cold-Eeze. This falls into the same category of Emergen-C as a necessity, especially during cold and flu season. This is a homeopathic cold remedy containing zinc, and although it leaves a funny aftertaste, it seems to do its job.
- Remind parents not to bring their children for music therapy sessions or lessons when they are sick, no matter how minor the illness. I send out emails reminding parents that even coughs and runny noses qualify as reasons to keep students at home, because they can lead to more severe illnesses that spread like wildfire. You may not have this luxury in a school setting; if a child is showing symptoms, be sure to take extra precautions.
- If you do fall prey to germs and end up sick, stay home. Music therapists are notorious for “working through” illnesses rather than canceling or rescheduling sessions. I am guilty of facilitating music therapy sessions with full-blown laryngitis in the past, but I’ve learned never to do that again. My voice is my livelihood, and it’s just not worth the risk!
Other no-brainers like eating healthy, drinking plenty of water, and not touching your mouth and nose before, during or after contact with children should be heeded as well. Now it’s your turn: help Linda and the rest of us out by providing your tips for staying healthy around kids.
If you mix Emergen-C with orange juice, it tastes muuuuch better. Plus you get an added boost of vitamin-C!
Ooh, awesome tip, Andrew! I never thought to do that – but certainly will from now on. Thanks :D
I’m odd in that too much vit. C gives me canker sores. So I opt for lots of fluids to help flush germs away and using my netty pot rinse once a day.
Hi Rachel,
That’s an interesting list. I think it’s a common sense list too. Most of us probably do those things. I have some additional thoughts…not to be contrary but only to add another perspective.
We have Emergen-C at our house too. Vitamin C is really one of the greats for keeping healthy. Emergen-C has sugar in it though and can stress your system if you really are fighting something. If what you need is energy…Emergen-C is good but there are other vit C products without sugar!
The last few years I have been taking an orthomolecular formulation mulit-vite. Right now…I’m convinced it’s the extra minerals that are keeping me healthy.:) There is a ton of science right now supporting the idea that our food is mineral-poor and if you do take supplements getting an expensive one (they are often special order from small companies) with correct formulations of a variety of things seems to be important. Of course, not everyone believes in vites!:)
When I first went into teaching I worked in a district that gave all new teachers an extra 14 days sick leave to be used in their first year. It seems that there is really no way around that first year of building your immune system. I guess the upside is that after a few years we just don’t get sick. I’ve been working with groups of young children for almost 30 years now and have developed the ability to just not get everything anymore. I don’t even worry if students come to me sick for lessons (most don’t though). I seem to be wiping noses and holding hands and well…nothing really bad happens anymore. I wish the same could be said for hayfever though…spring is my challenge.
One thing I definitely NEVER do now is get a flu shot! The one year I did that I was sick for 7 weeks and thought I’d never recover. I’m not saying other people shouldn’t…but I’ve noticed that in the families where moms get those shots, they are sicker than they’ve ever been every year they get a shot. I’m not convinced flu shots are good for everyone. They are necessary for many populations though. Know thyself!
The last 2 years I’ve had many conversations with parents at my studio (over half are doctors and surgeons and ORnurses) about antibacterial gels. The overwhelming message I received from them was that antibacterial gels are not the answer. They are not keen to have their children absorbing chemicals either. They’d do it if they have to, otherwise they go for soap and water. Washing hands with soap and water is the number one thing they agree on. They recommend that for grown-ups too over chemicals!
I also learned that the Verilux cleaning wand is a respected tool for disinfecting keyboards and equipment quickly and without water. It can not be used on skin though.
This last one is definitely not something everyone can do…I have an amazing air filter in my studio and now at home. It’s called the IQ Air Filter. It removes particles, odors, gases, etc…from the air. It keeps the air healthy and clean. That machine has made it possible for me to work in a room full of people.
Hmmm…now that I’ve reread this…you can definitely tell I’m a west coaster, can’t you?
These are some great tips!
I think another important aspect that plays into this, (which you have blogged about before) is looking after yourself. A strong immune system will help ward off the germs flying around out there. For myself I know I need to drink a lot of fluids (water over sugary drinks) eat regularly and healthy meals, and get enough sleep. These can all be a challenge but necessary to maintain a full schedule.
Thanks for posting this Rachel! I appreciate hearing everyone’s advice.
Hi Rachel,
This is a topic I have struggled with for years – I worked in special education in a school district for 10 years – My hands broke out in rashes from too much washing and anti-bac gel…and I still got sick – my last year I was seeing more than 200 kids/week there is no way to combat those germs.
So I agree with all the above suggestions- my daughters are so tired of hearing the words “neti-pot” from my mouth :) – but seriously it is so important to take care of yourself – practice what you preach.
WELLNESS – this is what I strive for:
VITAMINS-B-100 complex is the best for building immune system and fighting stress – I take at least 1000mg of C every day (I don’t like the taste or sugar of emergen-c), Calcium, magnesium,zinc (Trader Joe’s has great prices)
EAT HEALTHY FOOD – not processed food which has little nutritional value
EXERCISE DAILY
SLEEP – this is a hard one for me…