Adopting and practicing healthy habits is now more important than ever. Everywhere we turn – online, in tv ads, from our teachers and peers in zoom meetings, and even in conversations with friends and family – we are all told that to stay healthy during this pandemic the keys are to frequently clean frequently touched surfaces even at home, wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap anytime you have touched a questionable surface and at other times throughout the day, and keep up with all other good health practices that keep your immune system strong. If you and no one in your household has the virus, staying clean is very important so that it can’t even get into your atmosphere. The Bulldog Bulletin surveyed Lakeview students in grades 9-12 to find out what they are doing to stay clean during this time.

To begin with, our survey showed that students tended to have a low level of anxiety about contracting the virus themselves. Ninety-seven percent of students responding reported being at a moderate level of anxiety and below.

Perhaps student anxiety is low because they are doing everything in their power to keep their environments clean. Most students reported taking seriously the action of social distancing.

Seniors Olivia Matthews, Laura Garvin, Megan Cross, and Lita Ramos; Juniors Avery Probst, Alexandra Bell, Caitlin Kachurik, Aja Stewart, and Mitchel Meadors-Matheson; Sophomores Haley Turner and Molly Stein; and Freshmen Aylah Purdum, and Sophia Hawkins all echo Senior Rocco Bruno’s comment, “I’m following the Governor’s orders to stay home.“

Some students must leave their homes out of necessity. Many students reported working even more hours at their part time jobs. In those cases, keeping the home virus-free takes additional steps.

Junior Jeffrey Jiang says, “I am going through a whole decontamination process once I get home from work now.”

In addition, all families need to get food and other household supplies from somewhere and teens off school are able to help out, but bringing the grocery trip haul into the home now takes great attention to detail.

Senior Kaileen Stevens said that she and her family are “Sanitizing groceries and amazon packages” before bringing them into their home.

Sophomore Allison Redman said she is “Using Clorox wipes after going into public, sanitizing my car, and staying out of the public as much as possible.”

 Sophomore Anna Rider said that her family is “also wiping down our coats and all the groceries when we come home from the store.”

In fact, 89% of those responding to the survey report giving more thought and attention to surfaces that could possibly be harboring the virus.

But are they doing enough? At the time of our survey, only two students reported wearing gloves and only one reported wearing a mask in public. But the mask statistic will likely change in the coming days and weeks as the Centers for Disease Control and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine are now advocating for widespread use of social masks covering the mouth and nose. While such masks cannot completely protect a wearer from Covid-19, they do help everyone keep their virus molecules to themselves if they are a silent carrier of the disease.

A helpful 98% of students surveyed are doing the number one thing they can do to stop the spread of the virus and actually kill virus molecules. That simple action is hand washing. But just running hands under water is not enough. Use of real soap is necessary.

Lakeview Biology teacher and CCP Intructor Dana Dragash explains, “Soap is a vital ingredient in the hand washing routine because it is made up of a “water loving” and a “water fearing” end. Since soap contains an oil/fat itself, it repels water and allows the dirt/oils on your skin to cluster together and wash away with ease.”

When it comes to a virus like Covid-19, hand washers can’t be too careful. The actions of using water warm enough to create lather and bubbles, of rubbing hands together and of getting that lather to wherever the virus molecules might be is key.

Dragash adds, “When this grime washes off of you, it is pulled through and broken apart by the water-attracting ends of nearby soap molecules, thus “ripping apart” any viruses or bacteria present on your skin.”

“So,” Dragash says, “WASH. THOSE. HANDS!”

In fact, wash those hands as if all our lives depend on it – Because They Do!