Respiratory Etiquette: Cover Your Coughs and Sneezes
October 5, 2011
Growing up, I’m sure your mother told you to cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, right? And what did you do? You coughed into your hand, didn’t you?
While coughing into your hand might stop the person directly in front of you from being assaulted with your germs, it’s likely that you will spread those germs to others the minute you touch a door knob or shake someone’s hand.
Proper cough etiquette involves turning your head and coughing—or sneezing–into a tissue, or the inside of your elbow if a tissue is not available.
To help stop the spread of germs, during the cold and flu season, here are a few simple respiratory etiquette tips in mind:
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not into your hands.
- When you blow your nose, throw away the tissue and wash your hands immediately.
- DON’T touch your face (nose, ears, eyes, mouth) with your hands – this minimizes the chance of getting sick!
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Carry a hand sanitizer for times when you don’t have access to soap and water.
When it comes to respiratory etiquette, a few good manners are good for everyone. Stay well!
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