Why do people still cough into their hands?
Bry_Fitness70
Posts: 2,480 Member
Given that we know that germs and viruses are spread by contacting common surfaces with germ and virus carriers, why are people still coughing into their hands? At this stage of our scientific understanding, how is it that people don't realize that coughing into your hands and then touching door knobs, fridge handles, elevator buttons, etc., is getting people sick? When I see people do that I feel like honestly wonder how in the hell this is person doesn't know better at this point, and yes, I judge them and blame the when I get sick or my kids get sick.
Coughing into the inside of your elbow prevents airborne infection, and since you aren't likely to use the inside of your elbow to open doors, fridges, push elevator buttons, etc., you reduce the likelihood of infecting others by touching common surfaces.
Coughing into the inside of your elbow prevents airborne infection, and since you aren't likely to use the inside of your elbow to open doors, fridges, push elevator buttons, etc., you reduce the likelihood of infecting others by touching common surfaces.
0
Replies
-
Just tell them.0
-
This content has been removed.
-
Coughing into your elbow is better, sure.....but its not completely preventing the spread of germs.
When I cough into my elbow - the air shoots out over and under my elbow.....spreading germs.0 -
pixieloses wrote: »Just tell them.
I do, when it is practical.
My hope is that hand-coughers on MFP will change their ways - if I can save 1 person from losing a few days of their precious lives to sickness, then I have accomplished something.1 -
Why don't people wash their hands after using the restroom? No common sense.3
-
Coughing into your elbow is better, sure.....but its not completely preventing the spread of germs.
When I cough into my elbow - the air shoots out over and under my elbow.....spreading germs.
It will spread less than coughing into your hand and then touching a public surface though. Coughing down your shirt, if the collar is high enough, or into a jacket or sweater is even better.0 -
This content has been removed.
-
Given that we know that germs and viruses are spread by contacting common surfaces with germ and virus carriers, why are people still coughing into their hands? At this stage of our scientific understanding, how is it that people don't realize that coughing into your hands and then touching door knobs, fridge handles, elevator buttons, etc., is getting people sick? When I see people do that I feel like honestly wonder how in the hell this is person doesn't know better at this point, and yes, I judge them and blame the when I get sick or my kids get sick.
Coughing into the inside of your elbow prevents airborne infection, and since you aren't likely to use the inside of your elbow to open doors, fridges, push elevator buttons, etc., you reduce the likelihood of infecting others by touching common surfaces.
To some people, spreading germs is a big deal.
To others, grammar, spelling, and sentence structure are big deals.2 -
This content has been removed.
-
my vote is "out of habit."0
-
asflatasapancake wrote: »davesgalforever wrote: »Why don't people wash their hands after using the restroom? No common sense.
I see this a lot more often than one would think. I'm anything but a clean freak, but not washing your hands after the bathroom? Do you want to get sick or make someone else sick? I guess so.
Or when they turn the tap on for two seconds and then don't even use soap?
Biaaaaatch, no.
1 -
Would they prefer they cough in your face?6
-
Bump for Fall0
-
Aren't you supposed to cough and sneeze in the crook of your arm?0
-
-
Have you glared at her when she does this? Done a big sigh of derision?0
-
Don't know about you guys but I wash my hands before I go to the bathroom.
I sure don't want my dirty hands touching my stuff .
0 -
Idiots.0
-
Wear gloves, if touching surfaces is an issue? Coughing into your hands is polite.. Isn't that how it started? So that you don't have the unfortunate bugger coughing into your face and spreading it anyways? lol. If it is air borne we are catching it whether they cough, sneeze or lick you
just depends on how good your immune system is.
I had full on contact.... everything
with a person who had the flu... I never caught it.. As much as I try to hold my breath exactly where it was, when the person coughs or sneezes.. It doesn't work lol ... They say tissues are meant to be good.. As long as you bin it afterwards and wash your hands.. Oh and don't touch anything! Use your elbows to open doors.. Lol aren't germs fun... I have a chest infection.... *licks screen* 0 -
Bump - because unfortunately, this is still relevant
0 -
Meh. At least they try to cover it. I'd rather their hand than nothing at all.3
-
Determined_ella_89 wrote: »Wear gloves, if touching surfaces is an issue? Coughing into your hands is polite.. Isn't that how it started? So that you don't have the unfortunate bugger coughing into your face and spreading it anyways? lol. If it is air borne we are catching it whether they cough, sneeze or lick you just depends on how good your immune system is.
I had full on contact.... everything with a person who had the flu... I never caught it.. As much as I try to hold my breath exactly where it was, when the person coughs or sneezes.. It doesn't work lol ... They say tissues are meant to be good.. As long as you bin it afterwards and wash your hands.. Oh and don't touch anything! Use your elbows to open doors.. Lol aren't germs fun... I have a chest infection.... *licks screen*
Coughing into your elbow is more polite than coughing into your hands.0 -
As opposed to coughing out into the air and spraying the germs all over everyone around them? *perplexed look*3
-
That's the way I was brought up. Force of embedded habit. When I remember I do it another way.0
-
-
seekingdaintiness wrote: »As opposed to coughing out into the air and spraying the germs all over everyone around them? *perplexed look*
@seekingdaintiness no as opposed to coughing into your elbow and not getting germs all over your hands.0 -
Meh. At least they try to cover it. I'd rather their hand than nothing at all.
If they didn't cover it at all, then only the people immediately surrounding them at that time would be in the infection zone. But to cough in to your hands then walk around touching things greatly increases the amount of possible infections.0 -
MonkeyMel21 wrote: »Meh. At least they try to cover it. I'd rather their hand than nothing at all.
If they didn't cover it at all, then only the people immediately surrounding them at that time would be in the infection zone. But to cough in to your hands then walk around touching things greatly increases the amount of possible infections.
Or you can cough into your elbow and have less opportunity to spread the germs0 -
singingflutelady wrote: »MonkeyMel21 wrote: »Meh. At least they try to cover it. I'd rather their hand than nothing at all.
If they didn't cover it at all, then only the people immediately surrounding them at that time would be in the infection zone. But to cough in to your hands then walk around touching things greatly increases the amount of possible infections.
Or you can cough into your elbow and have less opportunity to spread the germs
I was referring to only the pp's comment about "at least they did something", when in that specific case "something" is worse than "nothing".
I wholeheartedly agree that people at this point should be enlightened enough to know not to cough in to their hands.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions