Coughing & Sneezing Correctly

We all know to cover up when we cough and sneeze, but how many of us actually do that?

It turns out a lot of us are covering up but most of us aren't doing it right. And by not doing it right, we are helping spread the cold and flu.

This study was done in New Zealand, were medical students had the unenviable task of sitting at a train station, shopping mall and hospital, watching people sneeze and cough. They did this during the swine flu pandemic, right when everyone was telling us to cover up when coughing and sneezing.

The good news is that most people, three out of four, at least tried to cover up to help prevent their germs from flying around. But the bad news is that, again most of them, three out of four, used their hands to do it.

And the problem is when you use your hands, instead of the inside corner of your elbow, you spread the virus to your hands. Then anything you touch after that---a doorknob or computer keyboard--- gets contaminated with that virus and can spread to others.

So, the goal here is to keep up the good work of covering up during a cough or sneeze but instead of using a hand, use your elbow or even a tissue then make sure you wash your hands.