It’s almost winter and that means it’s time to break out those heavy coats and fuzzy socks. Winter also means it’s cold and flu season. Every year, millions of people become sick with a cold and it is one of the most common reasons adults and children miss both work and class according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Across the board I think that attendance stays about the same because people still come to school [when they are sick] but other students  go on field trips and other things so it makes up for the others,” Art Teacher Mandy Knight said.

According to a CNN report, one of the “germiest” places at school for students is the class room desk. Students can also become sick by lack of washing their hands on a regular basis or sharing food and drinks. Some of the most common places in a school can often be the “germiest” too. Water fountains around the school are home to some of the most germs in a school.

“We see a huge increase in students becoming sick the closer it gets to winter, they come in coughing and sneezing all the time,” School Nurse Brooke Magilligan said.

The first few signs that you have a cold include a cough and even sneezing. Even before those symptoms occur there are ways to prevent becoming sick this winter. Always wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer regularly. If you haven’t washed your hands, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth so you prevent spreading germs. A great way to prevent becoming sick would be to simply stay away from others who are.

“I always get sick, not just during winter because I work with kids, but it’s definitely worse during winter,” senior Dani Whitehead said.