Stopping Germs at Home, Work and School

Illnesses like the flu (influenza) and colds are caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. The flu and colds usually spread from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

“Droplet spread” refers to the germs spread from person to person in respiratory droplets from the cough or sneeze. The droplets from an infected person move through the air and are deposited on the mouth, nose or eyes of people nearby.

Sometimes germs also can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches his or her own mouth, nose or eyes before cleaning their hands. Some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks.

Cough Etiquette

Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then throw it away. Clean your hands after every cough or sneeze if possible. If tissues are unavailable, it is preferable to cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow area rather than using the hands to cover a sneeze or cough. NO ONE EVER SHAKES YOUR ELBOW BUT THE HANDS ARE ANOTHER STORY !!

How to Clean Your Hands

• Hand washing - Wet your hands with warm water, apply soap, then rub your hands vigorously together and scrub all surfaces. Wash for at least 10 seconds. Teach children to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice (approximately 10 seconds). It is the soap combined with the scrubbing action that helps dislodge and remove germs.
• Hand cleaning using an alcohol-based disposable hand wipe or gel sanitizer is also acceptable if the hands are not visibly soiled. If hands are soiled, remove soil with a disposable hand wipe and then either wash hands with soap and water as soon as possible or apply an alcohol-based gel. If using gel, apply the gel to all surfaces of the hand and rub until the gel is dry. The alcohol in the hand wipe or gel kills germs that cause colds and the flu.

How to Stop the Spread of Germs in a Nutshell

• Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough
• Clean your hands often
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes
• Stay home when you are sick (others will love you for it)
• Teach children to practice “Cough Etiquette” and how to properly clean their hands

Show your love and respect for others by doing your part to stop the spread of germs !!