Arms have bigger hand in stopping spread of germs
By Nick Hytreknhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Thursday, January 08, 2009
St. Luke's Regional Medical Center infection control nurse Jen Hadley coughs into a tissue while demonstrating the proper way to prevent spreading germs while coughing. The procedure is part of a nationwide campaign called "Cover Your Cough." (Staff photo by Tim Hynds)
Your mother probably told you hundreds of times to put your hand over your mouth when you cough.
Turns out mother didn't always know best.
Using your hand to block a cough or sneeze is better than leaving your mouth uncovered, but more recent campaigns say it isn't the best way to keep your germs from spreading to others.
Cover Your Cough, an awareness campaign backed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health agencies and hospitals across the country, urges people to cover their mouths with their forearms or the crook of their elbows rather than hands.
The reason: Yes, you stop germs from flying all over the place by using your hands, but if you don't wash them after sneezing or coughing, you'll be spreading germs to everything you touch after that.
"I think (the emphasis) has always been to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, but the emphasis always has been on washing your hands," said Kathy Collins, performance improvement director at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center.
Using hands is still OK as long as you use a tissue or handkerchief, said Jennifer Hadley, St. Luke's infection control nurse. She said tissues and handkerchiefs should be used only once. And even if you use one, you should still wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after coughing or sneezing.
Some hospitals or medical clinics may offer patients who are coughing in the waiting room a mask to cover their mouths or encourage them to sit at least three feet away from the nearest person.
"It's a big education piece. If we explain it to them they seem to accept it pretty well," Hadley said.
The change to coughing into the arm rather than the hand seems to be catching on, especially with children, Hadley said. Many schools and day care centers teach children how to cover coughs and wash hands. Hospitals and medical clinics also spending more time educating staff members and patients.
"It's just something you have to do as a habit," Hadley said. "Once you start doing it, it's something that becomes ingrained in your memory."
Collins said she's read CDC studies that show using the arm to cover coughs and sneezes is more effective in preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses than covering up with the hands. Hadley said the research is a no-brainer. It only makes sense that people should keep their hands as clean as possible.
But, Hadley emphasized, sneezing into your arm is only one part of preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses. Frequent hand washing and getting an annual flu shot are equally important.
"If everybody got their flu vaccine and washed their hands when they're supposed to, we'd probably wipe out the flu," she said.
Better to wipe out the flu than wipe germs all over the doorknob after sneezing into your hand.
For more information about Cover Your Cough and other steps you can take to prevent spreading respiratory illnesses, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov and type Cover Your Cough into the search bar.
Turns out mother didn't always know best.
Using your hand to block a cough or sneeze is better than leaving your mouth uncovered, but more recent campaigns say it isn't the best way to keep your germs from spreading to others.
Cover Your Cough, an awareness campaign backed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health agencies and hospitals across the country, urges people to cover their mouths with their forearms or the crook of their elbows rather than hands.
The reason: Yes, you stop germs from flying all over the place by using your hands, but if you don't wash them after sneezing or coughing, you'll be spreading germs to everything you touch after that.
"I think (the emphasis) has always been to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, but the emphasis always has been on washing your hands," said Kathy Collins, performance improvement director at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center.
Using hands is still OK as long as you use a tissue or handkerchief, said Jennifer Hadley, St. Luke's infection control nurse. She said tissues and handkerchiefs should be used only once. And even if you use one, you should still wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after coughing or sneezing.
Some hospitals or medical clinics may offer patients who are coughing in the waiting room a mask to cover their mouths or encourage them to sit at least three feet away from the nearest person.
"It's a big education piece. If we explain it to them they seem to accept it pretty well," Hadley said.
The change to coughing into the arm rather than the hand seems to be catching on, especially with children, Hadley said. Many schools and day care centers teach children how to cover coughs and wash hands. Hospitals and medical clinics also spending more time educating staff members and patients.
"It's just something you have to do as a habit," Hadley said. "Once you start doing it, it's something that becomes ingrained in your memory."
Collins said she's read CDC studies that show using the arm to cover coughs and sneezes is more effective in preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses than covering up with the hands. Hadley said the research is a no-brainer. It only makes sense that people should keep their hands as clean as possible.
But, Hadley emphasized, sneezing into your arm is only one part of preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses. Frequent hand washing and getting an annual flu shot are equally important.
"If everybody got their flu vaccine and washed their hands when they're supposed to, we'd probably wipe out the flu," she said.
Better to wipe out the flu than wipe germs all over the doorknob after sneezing into your hand.
For more information about Cover Your Cough and other steps you can take to prevent spreading respiratory illnesses, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov and type Cover Your Cough into the search bar.
