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#Post#: 6078--------------------------------------------------
Covering your mouth when you cough...outdoors?
DIR By: TootsNYC
Date: June 19, 2018, 9:51 pm
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OK, so I have a really bad habit I'm working on.
I don't always remember to cover my mouth when I cough.
I have a chronic cough, so I'm coughing a LOT. And most of my
day is spent in my private office or in my home (and at home,
I'm not usually next to anybody).
It's not contagious--it's a combo of asthma, allergies, and
mostly acid reflux.
The cough can also come up really quickly, and if my hands are
busy, I just try to keep my mouth mostly closed and don't worry
about it.
This means that I've developed a habit of NOT covering my mouth.
In the winter, on the subway, I can tuck my chin into my coat
collar without having to move my hands up. But otherwise, I am
genuinely struggling to remember to do so. (If I'm next to
someone, I do always cover my mouth; it's the "3 feet away"
thing that is harder for me.)
At least twice in the last few years (once just last week, which
is why I'm remembering to write this) I've been out on the
street--in a crosswalk or standing by a building. No one has
been around me--like, the closest person is probably 12 feet
away, maybe even more. And so I sort of consciously decide to
not cover my mouth.
And someone who was approaching me, and was across the street
from me when I actually coughed, has scolded me about it (this
last time, the woman muttered about it to herself constantly as
she went past; I nearly didn't hear her, that's how far away she
was).
I think part of my calculation was, there's a breeze, it's the
open air, if there were germs (which there aren't truly
contagious ones, but of course other people don't know that)
they'd just get blown away into a very low density. Plus, of
course, there's nobody within 12 feet of me at the moment.
So am I really rude to not cover my mouth then?
#Post#: 6081--------------------------------------------------
Re: Covering your mouth when you cough...outdoors?
DIR By: caroled
Date: June 19, 2018, 10:35 pm
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It would be more polite to try to cover a cough if possible,
but sometimes there just isn't time to react to one.
To me it is just a part of day to day life and interacting in
the outside world. If it is cold/flu season, or I notice that
someone ahead of me is coughing (or sneezing) I will alter how I
handle things nearby such as opening a door or pushing an
elevator button. Because a common cold germ can live outside a
human host for up to 72 hours, it really wouldn't matter to me
if I saw you sneeze from a distance or not. I just assume that
someone might have yesterday and act accordingly.
And as for not having a free hand to cover with, the health
depts. in my state have posters in all public restrooms showing
how to tuck your mouth/face into the crook of your elbow to
cover a cough or sneeze. they say it is more sanitary than
covering with a hand that you may then touch an item with.
edited for typos
#Post#: 6083--------------------------------------------------
Re: Covering your mouth when you cough...outdoors?
DIR By: NFPwife
Date: June 19, 2018, 10:56 pm
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I think you were rude. It's basic etiquette that coughs are
covered; there are no "if it's a non-contagious cough" or "if
ppl are more than 3 ft away" or "if you're outdoors," exception
clauses. If the cough came up and you were surprised by it,
that's one thing. However, you said you consciously decided not
to cover your mouth.
Also, if you're working to be more conscious in covering your
cough, covering every time, without exception, will form that
habit better than going through rationalizations on why not to
cover.
#Post#: 6109--------------------------------------------------
Re: Covering your mouth when you cough...outdoors?
DIR By: Hmmm
Date: June 20, 2018, 8:48 am
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I have a persistent cough during the fall allergy season. I try
to cover my mouth for all coughs, but like you if I'm alone and
my hands are on the keyboard I usually don't.
If around anyone else, even outdoors, I do try to cover my
mouth. I'm now trying to remember to use my arm instead of my
hand. There are times I've just covered my mouth and now need to
shake someone's hand and that makes me very uncomfortable.
#Post#: 6116--------------------------------------------------
Re: Covering your mouth when you cough...outdoors?
DIR By: oogyda
Date: June 20, 2018, 9:22 am
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I can relate. I get a lot of allergy induced post-nasal drip
(due to a deviated septum) that triggers an urge to cough or
clear my throat.
Of course, you know that your cough is probably not something
contagious, but those around you aren't going to be as certain.
You should cover your mouth when out of your home or office at
all times because it is the polite and hygienically correct
action. This is true whether it's observed (even from a
distance) or unobserved. You wouldn't spit on the sidewalk just
because no one can see you, would you?
#Post#: 6143--------------------------------------------------
Re: Covering your mouth when you cough...outdoors?
DIR By: sandisadie
Date: June 20, 2018, 10:37 am
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You should try very hard to cover your mouth if you cough in
public when other people can see you IMO. I have a family
member in my household who doesn't always remember to cover his
mouth and he coughs very often. I don't hesitate to tell him
how rude he is. If a stranger near me coughed without covering
their mouth I would definately give them a dirty look.
#Post#: 6181--------------------------------------------------
Re: Covering your mouth when you cough...outdoors?
DIR By: Chez Miriam
Date: June 20, 2018, 12:57 pm
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I think sometimes we do things to not be rude, and sometimes so
that no one thinks we're rude:
1) If you were coughing uncovered with an URTI, you would be
rude.
2) With just an allergy/asthma cough there's much less risk of
spreading germs, but other people will not know that, so they
will perceive it as being identical to 1). I have coughing type
asthma, and whilst I might not always cover my mouth when I'm
home alone and my hands are mucky, I do so pretty much all of
the rest of the time [sometimes I feel weird being alone and
covering my mouth at home] - it's easier to have a habit than
work out 'is this a mouth-covering situation?'.
I applaud you for changing the habit, and covering your mouth
whenever you cough.
#Post#: 6182--------------------------------------------------
Re: Covering your mouth when you cough...outdoors?
DIR By: jpcher
Date: June 20, 2018, 12:59 pm
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To be frank, TootsNYC, you are rude by not covering your mouth
when you cough.
Other's around you do not know that your cough is not contagious
so they will automatically think that you are an unhealthy
person. This is a natural reaction so you should probably take
to heart any mutterings that you might hear and cover your
cough.
Even though you are healthy, every time you cough there are
still particles that come from your body that are spread around.
I found this video which I thought was pertinent even though it
talks about germ spreading. It's a visual as to how far your
cough output spreads:
HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K_boO2oceI
Chez Miriam -- you posted while I was typing.
#Post#: 6188--------------------------------------------------
Re: Covering your mouth when you cough...outdoors?
DIR By: Chez Miriam
Date: June 20, 2018, 1:45 pm
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Fascinating video, jpcher - I knew droplets went a long way, but
seeing them really reinforces it.
#Post#: 6207--------------------------------------------------
Re: Covering your mouth when you cough...outdoors?
DIR By: CrazyDaffodilLady
Date: June 20, 2018, 2:44 pm
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I'm so disappointed. I always thought you were perfect, Toots.
There have been times when I was immuno-compromised, and it
freaked me out when people didn't cover their coughs and
sneezes. I move away from non-coverers as quickly as possible.
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