The Right Way to Cough

When you are sick, the air coming out of your mouth when you cough or sneeze may contain germs. The average human cough forces out thousands of tiny droplets of saliva. In fact, science has found that about 3,000 droplets are expelled in a single cough. When you cough, mucus droplets are released into the air at speeds over 40 miles per hour. Those germs can infect innocent people next to you who breathe in those germs and become ill. Therefore, cough or sneeze into a tissue or your shirt sleeve.

Since most colds do occur between October and April (covering most of the school year from September to May) students are most likely to be sick and spread germs.



School-aged children are of an age group that are most likely to get sick. During the more formative years of life, kids are developing their immune systems. This is one reason for the higher rate of colds/flus compared to adults. Then again, school-aged children are also moving about in germ infested atmospheres. Seriously, have you ever seen the kids who play on the jungle bars? Coughing and sneezing everywhere, with a disregard for proper cough etiquette.

Adults should most definitely cover their coughs, but students should cover their coughs even more. Why do people think it is fine for elementary school kids to cough without covering their mouths? If first graders can figure out how to use an ipad, then they can probably follow the covering-your-cough rule too.

It isn't that hard to practice coughing and sneezing into the crook of your elbow.

It astounds me how people can leave elementary school without learning how to cough (with manners). When I was in elementary school, teachers often emphasized the art of coughing into the crook of our elbows. For the good of public health, would people please stop coughing with their mouths uncovered, thus aiming their germs at others? Whether you're sick and coughing or just have allergies, do have the decency to cover your mouth or cough in a direction where there is no one.