Cough Into Your Sleeve? Um, Don't Think So!

If you read here often, you would know I like fashion. You would also know that I do Bikram yoga to stay healthy and prevent illness. I protect my clothes and my body. I fight off illness, and try to look put-together while doing it. And since I love my clothes so much, why would I want to ruin them by getting sick and then coughing/sneezing into my sleeve?

Don't know what I am talking about? Well then you haven't ridden the subways or seen these posters out in public yet..


Rather than covering your mouth or nose with your hands when you cough or sneeze, the CDC is recommending we all use our sleeved elbows. Now, I am all for preventing the spread of the flu this season... But I am NOT a fan of ruining my clothing.

What if I had food in my mouth when I coughed or sneezed? My top would then be ruined. Not cool!!! I recommend everyone start carrying around a handkerchief again. Always be prepared and have it easily accessible to pull out for use.

Let's be respectful of those around us and of our clothes!

Comments

My kid likes to wipe his snotty nose on my shirt/ face. Not quite sure if that is what the CDC had in mind.
Anonymous said…
I agree with MISSUS. Carry a handkerchief,keep it close and use it.That's the way I was raised.Cover your face with your hands and then wash your hands if you can't get to the handkerchief quick enough.
Allie said…
There's always these. :)

http://petiteplanet.blogspot.com/2009/08/sniffle-buddies-catch-sneezes-and-runny.html
Me said…
OMG! Allie! Those are GENIUS!!!!
Bayjb said…
Yeah I'm not coughing into my elbow. I'll carry Purell or something. Not happening into the elbow
Gaffny said…
mmm...awesome. do you really think the general population is going to carry around a hanky to blow their noses in? please...in this flu season, it's important to heed the government's request. don't be foolish here-sure, you can carry a hanky around but keep your opinions to yourself because the majority of people in this country are not going to do so and they need to sneeze into their elbow before they open a door with their bacteria-ridden hands.
susan said…
A hanky? Doesn't that have the same problem as sneezing into your hands? Once you sneeze on it one time, it's germy, so each subsequent time you sneeze into it (or stuff it in your pocket or purse or wherever) you are actually spreading more germs. If you can't sneeze into your sleeve for whatever reason then it's probably less germy to use tissues that you can dispose of.
Unknown said…
Yoga keeps you free from germs? How silly. You take yoga classes. They keep your body fit and can calm minds. That is silly.

Why require people to carry something when we all have sleeves? Wash your hands? Where? Just imagine a sink is always near you? How silly.

How can a sneeze ruin a sleeve? I sneeze into my sleeve and have never made a mess or found anything. How silly.
Me said…
Packets of handkerchiefs are like $5 for 5 at Walmart. You use one a day.

And Christine, if you don't understand how sneezing into your sleeve is "ruining" your clothing, I feel bad for you. Because you probably aren't very hygienic. Snot, spit, germs... All hanging around in your elbow/sleeve for the day, till you get home and take the shirt off?

Eww.

And yoga helps your body's immune system... Which helps you fight off illness and and virus germs. Not that I would expect someone who thinks it is hygienic and clothing-care "challenged" to get that.
Zoe Doe said…
I have no problems with coughing into my sleeve, but sneezing is a different matter. You don't always know what's going to come out! I don't want drippy boogers on my clothing, especially if I need to look professional. And I know from experience -- if you're wearing something dark, you will end up with a large booger-streak.
Michelle said…
It seems more unsanitary to sneeze or cough into your sleeve - when you do that, you're guaranteed to carry the germs around all day until you take your clothes off. When you sneeze and cough into your hands, you can wash them immediately and not carry the germs all day.

Just wash up, use Purell, and don't touch your face.
LOL SMILEY FACE said…
all your answers are correct,but everyone has their own way to sneeze. ok.
Anonymous said…
Rather interesting place you've got here. Thanks the author for it. I like such themes and anything connected to them. I would like to read a bit more on that blog soon.
Anonymous said…
Who wants to have to wash a sweater after just one day? Besides that, the germs on the sweater rub onto the inner sleeve of your jacket, and you are not going to send your jacket out to be cleaned every day, so each subsequent outfit going into your jacket is going to get contaminated as well. Sneeze into your sleeve and when you hug your child or spouse those germs are now put on their clothing.
Anonymous said…
Nearly everyone I see coughing or sneezing into their elbow are not burying their mouths in their sleeves. They merely get "close to" the elbow or the sleeve. This is utterly pointless. The germs are blown over, under, and around the sleeve. The elbow-sneeze is only for show, unless you are completely burying your mouth in your clothing. Most people won't do this, as several have posted here, because they don't want to get their clothes messy.

At least if you cough or sneeze into your hand you're caging the germs instead of blasting them into the air around you (whether your sleeve appears to be in the way or not).

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