Coughing and Sneezing Etiquette: How You Can Prevent the Spread of H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu)

Friday, October 02, 2009

(Wynnewood, Pa.)—While your mother may have taught you the proper dining etiquette, did she ever think to teach you the “polite” way to sneeze? Francesca Litow, MD, Medical Director of Occupational Medicine for Main Line Health, reminds us that our hands can hold from a million to a billion invisible bacteria—usually resulting from coughing and sneezing—and that frequent hand washing avoids the spread of potentially dangerous germs.

This fall, everyone seems to be concerned about the H1N1 virus and how they can prevent contracting it. Illnesses such as the flu are caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. They’re usually spread from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

This means that if a person coughs or sneezes into their hands, they spread their germs to everything they touch—a desktop, doorknob, telephone receiver, etc.

“Some viruses can live for two hours or more on hard surfaces,” Dr. Litow explains. “So, if you come into contact with someone’s germs and then touch your own eyes, mouth or nose before washing your hands, the viruses or bacteria gain entry into your body and infection can occur.”

Protection from the H1N1 virus is a shared responsibility. Dr. Litow offers these simple tips for keeping healthy and preventing the spread of germs caused by coughing and sneezing:

Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then immediately throw it away.
Cover your cough or sneeze with your hand; if you don’t have a tissue, then immediately wash your hands.
Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, such as telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs, etc.
Wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer frequently. Avoid touching your nose, eyes or mouth to prevent germs from spreading.

“Proper coughing and sneezing etiquette will help to keep everyone healthier this season, and it will stop the transmission of germs,” said Dr. Litow. “The best way to keep hands clean is to avoid coughing or sneezing into them and to wash your hands frequently throughout the day.”

For more information about H1N1 prevention, please visit the Main Line Health Web site at www.mainlinehealth.org/fluinfo.

About Main Line Health
Main Line Health (MLH) is a non-profit health system serving portions of Philadelphia and its western suburbs. The mission of Main Line Health is to provide a comprehensive range of safe, high-quality health services, complemented by related education and research activities that meet the healthcare needs and improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.

Founded in 1985, MLH includes Bryn Mawr Hospital, Lankenau Hospital, Paoli Hospital, Riddle Memorial Hospital, Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital; The Home Care Network; Lankenau Institute for Medical Research; Main Line HealthCare (physician network); Main Line Health Centers; Main Line Health Laboratories; Mid County Senior Services; and Mirmont Treatment Center. Main Line Health is part of Jefferson Health System (JHS), founded in 1996, whose members also include Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals and Magee Rehab.

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