Each
sneeze, cough or burp generates a rain cloud
of invisible gas that propels droplets of infectious material farther than
originally thought, and smaller droplets actually travel farther than larger
ones. A new study from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers and published in the Journal
of Fluid Mechanics says this gas cloud extends the reach of droplets by 5 to
200 times.
“Colds, flu, measles, TB and
other airborne diseases can be transmitted through the air by a simple sneeze,”
says Sylvia Suarez-Ponce, a registered nurse and infection control practitioner
at Loyola University Health System. “The new study reinforces that sick people
need to stay home for the sake of the community.”
People also need to improve
public behavior when ill. “Many think they are doing the best thing by sneezing
into the crook of their arm, or covering their mouth with their hand when they
cough,” said Suarez-Ponce. “I was at a gathering recently and a woman coughed
heavily into her hand. She then shook hands with everyone around her,
introducing herself and passing along her germs and infections.”
Love thy neighbor, says
Suarez-Ponce, and use a tissue for both coughing and sneezing. “Throw the
soiled tissue away and then wash your hands really, really well,” she says.
If you do not have a tissue,
the crook of the arm is second-best. Sanitizing hand gel is also acceptable but
follow the manufacturer’s directions on how much to use to achieve proper
disinfection.
Hand hygiene is key to good
health, Suarez-Ponce says, yet most people do not clean their hands correctly.
“You need to really wet and soap up every part of each hand, the nails, the web
between your fingers and the palm,” she said. “Keep rubbing and twisting your
soapy hands together for 20 seconds, which is the equivalent of singing or
humming ‘Happy Birthday’ twice.” Then, she says, rinse thoroughly with
clean water and dry completely. (SciPhil)
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