“JOHNNY” yells his mother “How many times do I have to
tell you to cover your mouth when you cough!”
tell you to cover your mouth when you cough!”
“Sorry mom!” Johnny yells back….
Growing up, my mom was a nurse. My brother and I just thought her reflexive
“Cover your mouth”, “Wash your hands” was the nagging rite of passage
nurse-moms have over their kids. We
rarely responded with a “Yes, mom!” The
usual response from us would be rolling of the eyes, shrugging of the shoulders
and yelling “Whatever!” As an adult, a
mom and in a career related to infection prevention and control, I realize my
mom’s often repeated phrases to cover our mouths and wash our hands were in
fact sound guidance not just to teach us good manners, but to help prevent the
transmission of disease. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2QAGVMlns4
“Cover your mouth”, “Wash your hands” was the nagging rite of passage
nurse-moms have over their kids. We
rarely responded with a “Yes, mom!” The
usual response from us would be rolling of the eyes, shrugging of the shoulders
and yelling “Whatever!” As an adult, a
mom and in a career related to infection prevention and control, I realize my
mom’s often repeated phrases to cover our mouths and wash our hands were in
fact sound guidance not just to teach us good manners, but to help prevent the
transmission of disease. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2QAGVMlns4
So what is the big deal about covering our mouths when we
cough or sneeze? Oral or nasal
secretions (snot, saliva, mucous etc) infected with bacteria or viruses that
cause the flu, the cold, strep throat and even the PLAGUE can travel on
relatively large respiratory droplets when people sneeze, cough, drip, exhale
and even speak! They travel only short
distances before settling, usually less than 3 feet, but these droplets are
loaded with infectious particles and if they enter the eyes, nose or mouth of
another person….well you get disease transmission. Basically, when some coughs or sneezes
directly into your face you’re eating or absorbing their mucous or snot…. Something I try to avoid at all costs!
More often, though, fomites (a fancy word for inanimate
surfaces) are involved in transmission of disease. The droplets land on hands, toys, tables,
mats, or other surfaces, where they sometimes remain infectious for hours. Hands (mine, yours, a teacher’s, a doctor’s,
a nurse’s) that come in contact with these surfaces (doorknobs, telephones,
pens, etc.) pick up the bugs from the surface and become contaminated. When the “dirty” hand touches the nose or
eyes, the infection is able to enter the new person.
surfaces) are involved in transmission of disease. The droplets land on hands, toys, tables,
mats, or other surfaces, where they sometimes remain infectious for hours. Hands (mine, yours, a teacher’s, a doctor’s,
a nurse’s) that come in contact with these surfaces (doorknobs, telephones,
pens, etc.) pick up the bugs from the surface and become contaminated. When the “dirty” hand touches the nose or
eyes, the infection is able to enter the new person.
Frequent hand hygiene with plain soap and water or the
use of alcohol based hand sanitizers can help prevent droplet
transmission. Hand hygiene is most
important before eating and before touching the nose or eyes. However, cleaning or disinfecting commonly
touched infected surfaces such as over bed tables, doorknobs, faucet handles,
shared toys, mats in daycare and the steering wheels of our cars is also an
important preventative step. If the
surface is clean and free of bugs, it will decrease the chance of contaminating
your hands and making yourself sick.
use of alcohol based hand sanitizers can help prevent droplet
transmission. Hand hygiene is most
important before eating and before touching the nose or eyes. However, cleaning or disinfecting commonly
touched infected surfaces such as over bed tables, doorknobs, faucet handles,
shared toys, mats in daycare and the steering wheels of our cars is also an
important preventative step. If the
surface is clean and free of bugs, it will decrease the chance of contaminating
your hands and making yourself sick.
Be honest, do you actually cover your mouth if you sneeze
or cough while driving? When was the
last time you cleaned and disinfected your steering wheel? Do you eat in the car? Do you know what you have on your hands? I hope the next time you sneeze or cough no
matter where you are you cover your mouth!
Frankly, I don’t need the extra “protein” in my diet!
or cough while driving? When was the
last time you cleaned and disinfected your steering wheel? Do you eat in the car? Do you know what you have on your hands? I hope the next time you sneeze or cough no
matter where you are you cover your mouth!
Frankly, I don’t need the extra “protein” in my diet!
Bugging Off!
Nicole
