Keeping away from Virus.

[lostinidlewonder]

Last week I noticed that quite a few of my students where ill with the flu, I am happy that they are inspired enough to practice piano with me even if they are sick BUT! One little girl I taught in the middle of the lesson she just coughed right in my face, spit everywhere. To top it off there where hundreds of tissues with that she had blown her nose with everywhere around the room, and the room was so stuffy. I knew what was giong to come after that, and a few days later I came down with the flu!

Is there any way you guys keep away from sick students? I hate being sick because it takes away my energy to work! I have made it a habit to stand and teach kids who are sick, because my uncle (who is a doctor) told me that virus like to exist in the air below our waste  (that is why when doctors wash their hands before surgery they keep their hands up so it doesn't go near the virus air). But I find it funny telling the student I will stand during the lesson because you are sick and I don't want to get it.

[pianistimo]

what would be even funnier is if you stood and also kept your hands up.  yes.  i would like to see this.  or, if you know someone is coming in hacking and sneezing, you could say something like:  because i rely on my piano income a lot, i will now don this mask and gloves.  do not take any offense.  it is just my defense from getting sick.  if i hold my hands in the air - it is simply to keep them above my waist.  it is not to strike you. 

(*offer them a pair of gloves, too, so that the piano keys don't get all boogerie).

or, feign sudden illness yourself and cancel the lesson.  or, tell them that if they are sick beyond such and such a point (if they have: fever, headache, extreme tiredness, cough, excessively runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) - to call and reschedule when they are better. 

[pianistimo]

there are other things that mimic the flu.  i used to cough and sneeze as an allergic reaction to the dust inside the piano when it's played.  also, air vents at the uni are TERRIBLE.  they NEVEr clean them.  someone should complain vociferously about this.  kids may get sick faster because of poor air circulation.  i notice that my piano teacher started leaving the window open a lot and it seems to help if the temperature is mild  outside.  suppose that an air filter isn't a bad idea, either.

hubby takes flu shots, but i'm afraid i'd get a mild case of the flu from the shot.  he did last year and had a headache and achy all over that evening.  thankfully, i never got the flu from his taking the shot.  personally, i'm into oranges and grapefruit.  i think if you have exercise and vit. C a lot - it gives you a bit more immunity.  also, someone told me about the antibiotic properties of onions and garlic - so i add them to eggs and sandwiches (grilled onions).  sounds crazy, but it seems to work for me.

[Bob]

Wipe the keys down between students.

I don't think it's out of place to ask students to wash their hands before they play.  Just tell them you're preventing the spread of germs and a lot of students on that day seem to have a cold.  Alcohol soap works well.

Sit further away of course.

You could have an air purifier in the room.  Those things are supposed to be able to filter out viruses.  You could also have the air move through the room so you are upwind from the student if that's possible.  Use a fan.

Take a spray bottle of a disinfectant spray (or rubbing alcohol and water) and mist the air down.... assuming the droplets catch any garbage in the air and pull it down to the floor.

Keep up your immune system with vitamins, rest, and all that.

Wipe off the door handles too.

Air out the room when they leave.

Make it a habit not to touch your eyes or mouth at all. 

Have something in your policy about it being ok to miss a lesson if the student is sick.  It's one lost lesson income for you, but that is better than the loss when you are sick.

[pianistimo]

what a good idea, bob, about the spritzes of rubbing alcohol and water in the air after a lesson (as long as it's not right over the keyboard).  and the fan, to get the air to circulate away from you and out the window or something. 

i used the air purifier in my daughter's room when she was a baby before i put her down for a nap.  the air always seemed so free of dust and all - that if anyone has allergic reactions to dust - as i do - it would solve part of the problem (of students who seem like they have the flu - when they have allergies).  also, the inside of a grand piano can get REALLY dusty without putting the lid down frequently after practice.  don't remember what was suggested in the instrument section, but i think a small vaccum on blow setting or duster that would be very light and not put any kind of grease on the strings.

[galonia]

Anyone who works with children will get sick a bit during the first couple of years, but you build up a defence pretty quickly and you'll find it doesn't matter how sick the kids are, you don't catch much from them after that.

But in the meantime, you can build up your immune system by taking cod liver oil, and also echinacea.  And having a good diet and exercise.

Vaccinations may help if you're into needles.  I'm not, but in the end had the chicken pox vaccine after a few scares (chicken pox is dangerous for adults).

[gyzzzmo]

Please dont bother about sick students.
Just let them sneeze and cough in your face. Its all good for your defence. How do you think phycisians cope with this problem?
They dont have to, because they build up a great defence for flues.

Gyzzzmo

[Bob]

I thought there was no cure for a virus.  Right?

Which means we're always open to getting something, like a cold.

I think you can build your body's immune system up as much as possible, but you can still catch something.

Doctors do the same stuff as anyone.  Wash your hands.  Keep your hands away from your eyes and mouth.  Hospitals have air purifiers running somewhere.

[gyzzzmo]

Most gp's i know (i study medicens myself) dont wash hands every time someone sneezes. Many countries, US too where youre probably from, still have decade old health rules.

Gyzzzmo

[pianistimo]

what goes into a bird flu pill?  it's posted as advertisement at the bottom here, i see.

considering all the strange things going around, i'd rather play it a little safer and go at least for the washing of hands, turning face away if someone coughs at or near me, and frankly saying to a student, 'i think you are really sick (if they are continuously coughing), let's have a short lesson today - and i'll make it up when you are feeling better.  go home and get some rest and take care of yourself.'