Body Expellation Etiquette

Being that it's the cold and flu season, I have stocked up on sanitizer and Airborne (it's good stuff) and that always seems to help prevent germs from inhabiting my cells. I'm pretty germaphobic in the sense that I don't like getting sick. I'm not afraid of it, so you can't really call it a 'phobia', I just really don't like it. I have some friends that had the respiratory flu, then came down with a stomach flu. I told them I would not be able to come over to their house or seem them for at least six weeks. I was completely serious. When i do get sick, I usually don't have the option of taking a sick day (most of my patients drive from far away and have been scheduled for several weeks in advance- yes I'm one of those people who goes to work sick), so I do what I can to prevent the spreading of my germs: sanitizing, staying at my desk, washing my hands frequently and ALWAYS coughing or sneezing into my arm like the pictures show you.

I have noticed that most people don't do this. I was at Walmart last night and a woman, who was shopping for cough medicine, kept coughing but instead of coughing into her arm, she put her arm about two feet from her face. I suppose she thought that was sufficient. I know another person who coughs and doesn't even attempt to cover his mouth. The following is the proper coughing and sneezing etiquette.

If you have to sneeze, quickly grab a tissue and cover your nose and mouth completely. If a tissue is not nearby, tick your nose and mouth firmly into the crook of your elbow. Doing this you may get some fluid (i.e. snot) on your shirt, but you'll have completely contained your airborne germs and prevented everyone in a three hundred foot radius from breathing them in. Then wash or sanitize your hands. Yes, even though you didn't use them, do it anyway.

If you have to cough, follow the same procedure: completely bury your mouth in the crook of your arm, don't just put it in the general vicinity of your face. Wash your hands. Again, even if you didn't use them, do it anyway.

I hope this has been helpful. Remember, it's all about consideration for others!

I hope you remain cold and flu free this season!