Coughs and Sneezes- Various illnesses like coughs, colds and the common flu can be caught through the airborne transmission of respiratory droplets. Airborne transmission refers to the mechanism by which a person inhales the air that carries small respiratory droplets (droplet nuclei) and aerosols containing viral particles.
Droplet transmission, on the other hand, occurs when a person catches larger respiratory droplets shed by another person infected with a viral illness. Luckily, the transmission of disease-causing pathogens can be effectively minimized or prevented just by covering coughs and sneezes the right way.
Tips to Cover the Coughs and Sneezes
Here are some tips to keep in mind when coughing or sneezing:
1. Use a Face Mask
Coughs and Sneezes- There are many kinds of face masks that can be used to prevent the transmission of pathogens: cloth masks, surgical masks, and N95 masks to name a few. These face masks are able to filter most viral particles and can be an effective barrier from various illnesses.
Using a face mask when coughing or sneezing reduces viral transmission to less than 5%. However, it is also important to wear face masks properly to get maximum filtration efficacy.
Coughs and Sneezes- If you’re keen on using face masks that can confer an additional layer of protection against microbes, you might want to consider buying antimicrobial face masks. These face masks are treated with special properties that inhibit the growth of bacteria and viruses on the mask’s surface. By keeping the mask itself free from pathogens, these face masks further limit microbial transmission.
2. Use a Mouth Cover
Coughs and Sneezes- If you’re not wearing a face mask, you can use other objects that can serve as a mouth cover when you’re coughs and sneezes. These include things like a piece of tissue paper or a handkerchief.
Covering your mouth will prevent respiratory droplets from being expelled into the air, which could otherwise potentially infect other people.
Make sure to always use a mouth cover that is clean and sanitary. If you used a handkerchief, make sure to keep it out of other people’s reach. Never leave it anywhere that other people could unknowingly touch it. If you have the means to do so, wash it right away.
3. Cover Your Mouth with Your Shirt Sleeve or Elbow
Coughs and Sneezes- In case you do not have any of the items mentioned above, you may also use your shirt sleeve or the inside of your elbow when coughing or sneezing to cover your mouth and nose.
This would still keep the infectious droplets from floating in the air and infecting other people. Making this practice a habit would be helpful in situations where tissue or a handkerchief is not readily available.
4. Never Cough or Sneeze Into Your Hands
Coughs and Sneezes- In any situation, never use your bare hands to cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing because chances are, you would transmit the infectious particles onto other objects or people before you even get to wash your hands.
As mentioned, your shirt sleeve or the inside of your elbow would make a better cover for your mouth than your hands.
5. Face Away from Other People
If you are a short distance away from other people and you need to cough or sneeze, make sure to face away from them so as to limit the infectious particles that they could possibly inhale. This is always a good practice even if you have something to cover your mouth with.
6. Dispose of Used Tissue Paper Properly
If you used pieces of tissue paper for coughing or sneezing, put them in a plastic bag or a ziplock bag before throwing them away. Never leave any used tissue lying around or in contact with any surface to avoid contamination.
Lastly, make sure that the plastic bag or ziplock is tightly sealed before putting it in the trash bin to avoid spillage.
7. Wash Your Hands with Soap and Water
Handwashing is one of the most critical steps in preventing the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses. It is important to wash your hands with soap and water after coughing or blowing your nose, even if you used tissue or a handkerchief.
This will keep you from potentially contaminating any object that you might get in contact with after touching your nose or mouth. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, rinse them thoroughly, and dry them using a clean towel.
8. Use Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer
If you are on the go and water and soap are not available, you may also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Although using alcohol-based sanitizers is not as effective as handwashing in terms of eliminating germs, they are a useful alternative to soap and water if you want to reduce the number of pathogens on your hands. They also come in handy in many situations as they are compact and travel-friendly.
Covering your coughs and sneezes the right way, along with regular hand washing and sanitizing, can help slow down the spread of disease-causing microorganisms. By simply observing these practices, you can effectively protect yourself and the people around you.
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