We've all been taught that we should cover our sneezes and that is what we teach our kids. The problem: A new study by researchers at Otago University in New Zealand has found that three out of four people sneeze into their hands, which is a prime example of how germs can spread from one person to another when someone does this and then touches surfaces and objects such as doorknobs.
Researchers observed hundreds of people sneezing at a train station, a shopping mall, and a hospital. They found that most people used their hands to cover their sneezes. Only 1 out of 77 sneezed into the insides of their elbows and only 1 in 30 used a handkerchief, which are better ways to prevent the spread of infection. The most startling part of this study: It was conducted only a few months after the swine flu virus was first identified, when there was real fear about a global epidemic.
I've personally witnessed many examples of people using their hands to cover their sneeze or cough, or not using anything at all (yuck). Old habits die hard, but if we parents can make it a point to teach our kids how to cover their sneezes correctly not to mention wash their hands often it can make a real difference in how well they protect themselves and others around them against the spread of germs and illnesses.