To Cough is Human, To Cover Thy Mouth is Devine

Although I am bot a medical professional I would like to put my two cents in about this flu season. It's been almost three weeks now since I started getting sick with bronchitis. I am finally feeling better, finally updating my blog, and finally going to post my ideas about etiquette when ill. I have recently noticed a lot of people not following what I believed to be common knowledge practices of cleanliness and courteousness when sick. I even saw a a grown woman old enough to be my mother cough in my co-worker Marcia's face. She didn't even attempt to apologize, cover her mouth or take any other correct action in the matter which made me think that this situation may be worthy of a blog post. So in light of this gross woman's actions and the fact that the dreaded flu season is again upon us, let's go over the polite and lean way to go about being sick.

1) Isolate yourself. If you miss one day of work to stay away from others when you are most contagious your co-workers, classmates etc. should thank you. Even if your boss is pissed hopefully he/she can see that one employee sick day is better than the entire office playing the pass around the yucky bug game.

2) COVER YOUR DAMN MOUTH. Preferably cover your mouth with your sleeve, not your hand to help keep nasty germs at bay on your arm/armpit and off your hands that touch many many things that others touch between washings. Plus it's just nice not to hack in peoples' faces etc.

3) Scrub those little hands, fingernails too. This is a good thing year-round. No one likes to see, shake or smell poopy grimy hands.

I know this post may seem quite elementary but often I see when people are sick their manners seem to also be infected. So please stay politely healthy.