The start of fall means colder weather, colorful leaves and the beginning of the flu season. Anyone is susceptible to the influenza since it is an airborne illness, but there are ways to get protected or make the flu less severe.

The best protection from the flu is by getting a flu shot, according to Tahoma School District’s nurse Jennifer Lyons.

While there are ways to decrease the chances of getting the flu, the best protection from the flu is getting a flu shot.

“When we reside in tight spaces like a school or an office, the flu gets spread very easily,” Lyons said.

She recommends everyone get a flu shot, especially the young and the old, she said. Their immune systems aren’t as strong and they could become sick easier and it is more severe since their immune system can’t fight back as well.

The Tahoma School District didn’t see a lot of cases of influenza last year that Lyons could recall. As soon as they do see a child get sick, they take immediate action. The school district will send a letter to parents to warm them there have been some flu cases. They recommend a sick student not return to school until they are fully recovered, or at least 24 hours after they do not have a fever, Lyons said.

While not everyone gets flu shots, there are a few things that could help from spreading the flu. They don’t protect against the flu like flu shots, but they help a little bit. The most important thing someone can do is wash their hands, Mary Newell, the nurse coordinator for the Kent School District, said.

“It’s an easy 20 second way to get rid of germs,” Newell said.

Covering a cough, not sharing any eating or drinking utensils, getting a good night’s sleep, exercise and eating balanced meals also help as well, Newell said.

The last few years haven’t been too rough as far as sick children in the Kent School District, Newell said. It never hit a major high where they had to look at doing a deep cleaning, it was just constant kids coming in and out, like a revolving door, Newell said.

According to a press release from Washington’s Department of Health, there was a recent death from influenza. It is a reminder that if not taken care of properly, the flu can be deadly. They echo what Lyons said and mention that it affects the old and the young a lot more.

The peak of the flu season is in the winter, so now is the best time to get vaccinated and prepare for the flu, according to the press release.

Some pharmacies provide free flu shots with most health insurances, check out any local pharmacy for more information on prices and times flu shots are available.