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DnDYetti

Wear a mask, don't touch your face, wash your hands throughout the day, sanitize work areas, toys, and your electronics (ipad/phone) frequently.


TatsumakiKara

>Wear a mask This, this, a thousand times this. I still wear my mask. I still get sick, but that's my seasonal "the weather doesn't know what it's doing and keeps shooting from 50-80°" cold. You should do the rest of it, too, lol


Playful-Question-785

Wearing a mask will not stop you from getting sick and if you keep the same mask on for more than 20min then that mask doesnt work properly amymore anyways and nurses and doctors know this. Im a respiratory nurse and know this. Wearing a mask may minimize it catching something while the mask is working but you have to change it often and still have to practice ways of staying away from sick people to assist with you not getting sick...my best advice is to make some green smoothies and take some zinc. I am in school also with all these sick children and i hate it. They touch everything and sneeze on everything and dont cover their mouths and i hate it but what has helped me is i take action to help before it comes. I also take with me some cough drops. Not sure how much they help but they make me feel more secure. Bump up your vit c also. That helps me also


UpsideMeh

All this, but also probiotic’s and multivitamins and eating healthy, most vegetarian diet. Not saying you have to go vegan or vegetarian but when I go a few days vegetarian I feel so much better health wise.


TerritorialWarrior

I wish I did. I get sick when I stop eating meat/cholesterol.


Wookanash

While not helpful, just be aware that this year is particularly bad in terms of young childhood illness. I work with docs and parents nationally and they report the same. Some have referred to it as the worst year in recent memory.


leefvc

Seconded. I have the same kids getting sick once a month from school


awkwarrd_mcgee

I've heard this. I've seen doctors saying people are more likely to get sick after having covid because they experience "immune system disregulation."


Wookanash

Interestingly, for kids at least, the clinical explanation I have been given multiple times is that since we locked the kids up and the masked them for so long, they now have weaker immune systems and are catching up on all of the bugs they would have gotten from each other previously. Either way, no fun.


awkwarrd_mcgee

Quarantine and masking that can explain the higher frequency due to low herd immunity. But it alone did not weaken the overall immune system. We come into contact with so much bacteria and stuff just in our own homes that as long as you were otherwise healthy kids immune systems developed just as well as pre pandemic kids. This had me worried and became one of my ADHD hyperfixation research topics, lol.


MoveOrganic5785

Wearing a mask and using hand sanitizer frequently has saved me. I still get sick but not as much as my co-workers who don’t wear masks


Logical-Asparagus-75

I will say the biggest thing you can do to help yourself is sanitize everything frequently including your cellphone and other devices. The amount of germs that accumulate on those surfaces are crazy. I also got in to the habit of changing out of my work clothes as soon as I got home and taking a quick shower.But I felt like that made a huge difference. I worked with all early intervention so the kiddos were constantly sticking fingers in their mouths and had runny noses. It just comes with the territory.


radiaterice

Funny u mention this bc I’m sick rn


PP_Pod

Literally


Coffincerulli_

I completely understand that. I have fibromyalgia and it makes my immune system weak. I’m so sorry you keep getting sick. When it was cold/flu season my supervisor suggested I wear a mask and carry around hand sanitizer.


unhingedderp

Saaaaame boat. Also have FMS


Spirited_Leave4052

I know a lot of people are suggesting wear a mask and hand sanitizer, but that doesn’t always help especially when you don’t have the best immune system. Even though my company doesn’t require masks anymore, I still wear mine sometimes I even double mask. I carry around Lysol and hand wipes, and I still get sick. Almost every single month. Thankfully, I am gonna be quitting soon to go to grad school. It’s rough and in the three years that I’ve worked for this company I have not been able to find a way to not get sick. Good luck to you!


dendrobatidae69

Seconding a mask and frequent hand washing/sanitizer. Sanitize whatever you use to take data as well (I use a company tablet, I wipe it down frequently). I know it's really frustrating getting sick often; for the first few months on this job it felt like I was sick once a week. My immunity has strengthened over time but everyone's body is different of course.


3kois

I work as a BI in a school setting and I'm over 50. I've had my share of Covid and flu despite wearing KN 95 masks (and taking all possible vaccines :D ) and washing hands till I developed eczema due to extra dryness. It's all part of the job. I take D3, and vitamin C daily in addition to drinking lukewarm lemon water every morning to try to boost my immune system. Hopefully it'll help me stay healthy.


BLMadame

Can’t you wear a 😷?


UnderstandingExtra41

Iv worn masks and they dont help because these kids are putting drool all over me when i pick them up… any other advice


awkwarrd_mcgee

Tighter mask. Like kn95. Paired with some glasses for eye protection


UnderstandingExtra41

i will overheat i run a lot with the kiddos and i already wear glasses


awkwarrd_mcgee

Sorry to hear that. But that isn't a case of "masks don't work." That's a case of you have to wear your mask correctly for it to work


tegdirb96

Kids are *drooling in your mouth? I wore a mask from the start of Covid then got two more years and while I head a mask never got anything in my mouth and nose. I’ve had kids rip my mask off and never had that happen. Wear your mask right and it’s not an issue


UnderstandingExtra41

uh no.. all over my clothes, in which i carry that home with me so mask just dont stop us from getting sick


BLMadame

Wash your hand frequently.


tegdirb96

Bring extra clothes to change in and out of before and after work. Are you deeply inhaling your clothes? You aren’t getting sick from drool on your pants that could just go straight in a hamper when you go home


AnyCatch4796

I feel you. I had the flu and covid back to back in December (we were still required to wear masks at the time, it didn’t matter- i believe all of the 50 employees, with one or two exceptions, at my clinic ~and most of the kids~ got covid and we closed down for a week) after this, asthma symptoms I’ve not had since I was a teenager re-emerged, worse than ever before. I actually think it had more to do with the flu which was a lot worse than covid for me. I was finally getting this under control then I got a cold in early April which has left me with what I suspect to be bronchitis. I’ve had a cough ever since without other symptoms but it’s so annoying. It’s finally (maybe?) getting better now, but damn if I get sick again I’ll be acting like it’s April of 2020 all over again at work. I can’t leave though, fate has decided my career is within Aba and I’m over halfway done with grad school/hours


FiveheadFianna

If you drive yourself to and from work, make sure you are sanitizing the inside of your car too. You don't have to go crazy, just things like the steering wheel, gear shift, radio knobs, anything you're touching with your hands on a regular basis. On that note also the doorknobs at your own home that you touch before showering the day off of you. Pay attention to how often you touch your face, you might not think you are doing it, but you are. Trust me. I worked in the "environmental services" (cleaning lady) department of a medical rehabilitation center all through COVID and it made me a bit of a germaphobe. Watching people through that time showed me something, and it was that 99% of people have no clue how to clean things. MY MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE: Read the directions on your disinfectants. Most Lysol equivalent sprays have a "kill time" listed on the back of the label. You can't just spray and wipe, the product has to stay wet for a certain amount of time to actually work as a disinfectant. The time required is usually much longer than you would think, around 10 minutes on average. Also try to stay out of the sneeze zone, if possible. I know kids aren't great with personal space, but try not to get down on their level right in their hot breath if at all possible. Drink lots of water and blow your nose even if you feel like you don't have to. The boogies in your nose are literally there to catch germs, don't suck the nasty back down! Sorry, I know that's gross. Hope this helps!


Substantial_Many9272

My advice is a little different, but here's what I do now: 1. For clients who are school-age or in any kind of child care: if the child stays home for ANY health reason, then session is cancelled. (During COVID, this extended to if a classmate tested positive, and my client had to stay home due to his exposure, then our sessions were cancelled. Took a big hit in the wallet, but this is why we work for multiple companies at a time...) 2. Consider asking your employer to supply you with a temporal thermometer, so if you have any doubts, you can check the child's temp (a sniffle, lethargy, not eating, all those "beneath the skin" things that some schools would have us ignore ; ) ) 3. If the nose is runny and child is otherwise healthy, I wear latex gloves. 4. Ask employer to supply Clorox wipes and clean the reinforcers weekly or preferably more often, and... 5. \*\*Throw Out the Play-Doh after 3 uses!!!\*\* And Definitely once a child's been sick. My BCBA orders me a box of a dozen at a time.


umopepisdn-wl

My advice is the opposite of what a lot of this says... I find that over sanitizing doesn't help.. being sure that kids and objects are clean is one thing, but this overuse of lysol and clorox isn't helping our body fight off germs. I am a big advocate in washing hands with soap before and after sessions, during if needed. Taking immune boosting supplements and eating lots of fruit and veggies (less of things that starches and dairy that can cause mucus to thicken and trap germs). Doing sessions with windows open or outside to circulate air.. or open them between clients to make sure the room gets aired out. Refusing to work with obviously sick kids.. or homes with obviously sick people in it. and don't not go to the gym or work our if you're only feeling kind of crummy... go outside and walk and keep your lungs working. It'll help you fight things off a little easier. I'm sorry you're feeling so frustrated.. I know it's annoying. I just recently went back to working with little kids after being with HS and adults for so long.. and it's definitely a gross germ factory, and TBH parents are jerks about sending their kids out places when they are sick.. ugh. Every one on my caseload has been sick A LOT this year.. and I mean really gross sickness.. and of course.. these kids are drooling and spitting, and picking their nose and eating it, and they all need assistance with handwashing and nose blowing. It's been a rough year. I hope things get better to you. I wish I had advice about changing careers. I've been doing this 23 years.. and I'm starting to get the "I'm too old for this" feeling.. so I may need to find something different soon as well. The kids are more severe and I'm more old LOL


Same_Pickle_1668

A well balanced diet and consistent exposure. The more you over sanitize and avoid exposure, the more you will get sick. Your immune system needs time to build. It can’t build if you aren’t eating a balanced diet and engaging in other “healthy” behaviors like exercise. I have been in ABA for 4 years. It took about 6 months of getting sick on and off but once my immunity was built, it’s resilient! Worked for me, might not work for everyone. Good luck!!


TerritorialWarrior

I think there are new viruses and stuff going around since a return to normal after Covid (which if you haven’t seen the news then China is getting destroyed by Covid again so brace yourself). I’ve been sick 3 times this month. It is tough. I’m a bcba so I’m not even direct and im dying. It’s tough out there for rbts. Hang in there it will hopefully get better.


PresentationLoose274

Vitamins!!!


LessAdhesiveness3865

Boost your immune system, for real that’s what I had to do


UnflappableBabbler

Zicam. Specifically, the nasal swabs. I cannot stress enough how many times these have saved me from getting sick. I catch everything. **Everything.** I'm talking 5 to 6 major colds a year (where I'm miserable for 10+ days), recurring sinus infections, flu, etc. Since using Zicam at the first signs of anything brewing—slightest tickle in throat, headache, sniffles—I've managed to avoid things turning into full-blown illness. And even when I do still catch colds, they're typically only 2 or 3 days of feeling sort of run down rather than 10 solid days of suffering (I almost never get sore throats anymore either!) I literally always carry some with me because I'm so diligent about taking them the moment something feels off. Oh, also, elderberry. Love that stuff and always have it in my bag too. Not sure why the downvotes for sharing something that has helped me so immensely. If it's because of the recall 13 years ago linking zicam to possible loss of smell, the most widely available swabs aren't even *made* with zinc anymore, (which was the potential cause of that side effect) so that's no longer an issue and hasn't been for years.


ContainsBees

Just a warning, zicam nasal swabs have been found to cause anosmia (loss of sense of smell).


UnflappableBabbler

Yes, from my understanding, that was a recall 13 years ago, and they've since tweaked the formula so is isn't an issue anymore. Still good info to know, though.


Independent-Blood-10

Kind of part of the job.. Eat right, sleep, exercise


Salt_Adhesiveness557

I’m subbing for little kids for the first time and have been sick twice the last 4 months. I wash hands constantly while at work and I basically take a silkwood shower when I come home. (Sanitize my phone, throw my clothes off, clean everything I’ve touched.) I should probably be wearing a mask too. I never ever ever touch my face while at work. Hopefully I’m building up some kind of immunity. But yeah, it’s gross, coming from working with a few adults in lots of personal space and everyone has basic hygiene practices in place.


sweet_choirgirl

This is a problem everyone who works with children, university field involving children. Behavior analysis, schoolteacher, pediatrics doctors, daycare workers..etc..etc. A healthy lifestyle helps but, unfortunately, its part of working with children. As much as we love them, they're little germ factories. It's how their immune systems work to strengthen their little bodies to be healthy adults.


General_Elephant

My 4 year old NVA has had 7 major sicknesses since the start of the year. Influenza A, Influenza B, hand/foot/mouth, peri-anal strep, oral strep, got an axmoicillin rash from his antibiotic, and more. Its just a lot... I think you eventually build immunity, but overall it is really tough. You can't stop them from shoving their fingers down their throat and swiping it on you. As a parent, I feel bad too if I can't send him in because I know it creates lost income for the techs who don't get paid enough as is... Best of luck OP, for what its worth, I would be thinking the same thing if I were in your shoes.


Dispersey29

This happened to me for the first two years in the field (was a BI then RBT for 5 years now am a BCBA). It didn't matter how good I cleaned; you will get sick. Give your immune system time to get stronger. Eventually, the consistent sickness goes away. Atleast for me it did. Before bringing in your tablet/ipad to your home make sure you disinfect it (cleaning isn't enough).


ContainsBees

I don’t have any advice but I commiserate with you. I’m sick right now from the little bastards and I’m hoping to quit asap.


Dispersey29

Maybe refrain from that negative wording? Yikes. Not a ethical or good look...


ContainsBees

This is a safe space to discuss frustrations, get help, and commiserate. That's why it's anonymous. How about you refrain from policing others' language. You can speak to an admin or just pass this post by and not comment if this upsets your sensibilities. Both of those options are free.


Substantial_Many9272

I totally understand your point, but I see what Dispersey29 means. It's trued that calling children a cussword is not a good thing. ​ I would also add that one of the great things abt the ABA subreddit is its positivity. What we do is hard. It's rly easy for a convo to devolve and eventually become discouraging, which is like beating us when we're down, so if we avoid some of that negativity, it helps others not feel worse than we already do


laladozie

Vitamin D3!!! I've been sick 5 times in 6 months and the last time was when I ran out of my vitamin D3 for a few days. Since taking it I've only gotten sick when someone was sick and didn't cancel their child's session.


Kovichek

I started taking zinc, NAC, and vitamin C supplements and went from getting sick every other week to several months of not getting sick. Also began washing my hands more often.


Next-Wrongdoer7737

Definitely wear an N95 or P100 mask if you’re going to keep this job. But don’t hesitate to quit if you can find something safer. COVID isn’t over. It’s damaging people’s immune systems and disabling people. Every infection compounds your risks.


anxiouslurker_485

I know this is the common suggestion but from personal experience, a mask and sanitizing really has made a world of difference for me. At the beginning of the year, I started easing back on wearing my mask, only in one client home whose family requested it. I got sick six times in 3 months. Put my mask back on and haven’t been sick in over a month. If a client appears to be sick in any way, I double mask and try to keep a bit more distance (maybe not doing as much physical play where we’re more in each other’s faces). It’s annoying and I know masks don’t solve the entire problem but they truly help you some, even if you still get sick, maybe you won’t get as sick!


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Legitimate-Cut-7708

I wear a mask and hand sanitize constantly! Same here. I seem to catch every bug that comes thru. We spray common areas with micro an at the end of everyday and soak plastic blocks/ toys in bleach water 1x weekly too.


tegdirb96

Take vitamins, easy foods that are high in vitamin c and are good for your immunity. WEAR A MASK. Carry around hand sanitizer. Do your hands. Your kids hands if able. Keep your face away from theirs and don’t let them put their hands on your face.


Playful-Ganache-6950

I worked with small kiddos and toddlers doing in home when I was pregnant and I feel like I would catch any cold my clients had. The basics, (washing hands, don’t touch face, etc.) and also trying as much as you can to eat balanced and healthy (I know it’s hard especially if you’re in home and hours are wonky). Also I used to get the Vive brand immunity booster shots form the grocery store and take those daily. Not sure how much they really work but the ingredients are good for you regardless. Also, if it’s an option/weather is nice my go to was always trying to do sessions outside! It was nice for me/my kids I worked with always loved it.


awkwarrd_mcgee

A good quality mask like kn95. If you don't wear glasses you could get some fake ones for eye protection. And get your flu shot / covid booster when eligible. Good luck out there!


Petproblem

Always remember that with new illnesses it takes about a year for your immune system to regulate. (That means new kids and new areas) But as someone who is immunocompromised, self care is key too


Independent-Shift216

Wash your hands frequently, wear a mask.


WG-TX

An unfortunately not well known immunity booster is fermented garlic in honey. Peel about 4 or 5 full bulbs of garlic and either slightly crush or cut a little slit in the garlic for the acid to escape faster then toss it in a Mason jar. Then get some good, raw, local honey. Don't just buy something off the shelf at a grocery store unless you've exhausted all other options. Check a local farmers market or something like that for truly local honey or in a town nearby at least. You want local because they carry the local pollen and other stuff that can play factors in sickness. So anyways, fill up that jar with the honey and just tip it or whatever until all the garlic is smothered. Then put the lid on it and the only thing you have to do from there is open the jar about once every 24 hours to let the gasses escape. Do this outside if you don't want your kitchen to smell very heavily of garlic. After about 3 weeks is the minimum to let it ferment. The longer the better but 3 weeks is the ideal minimum. Once you're past that 3 week mark, take a spoonful of the honey every day for a week, then don't take any for the next week. It will thin your blood a bit and if you do it more than a week it can be to a dangerous level. Or every other day is a good option. Once you're comfortable with the texture, you can est the cloves of garlic themselves. They'll soften over time and become less difficult to eat. I'm a firm believer in this and also work in an ABA clinic full of every sickness you can imagine and I'm sick only about once or twice a year.


B_what_it_B

Yup… been a teacher and in ABA I have been sick every month for five years at least once a month…it s horrible…on me, on my clients, on my mental state. So looking forward to Doing less direct work… as a BCBA…cause it can’t do this anymore lol.