Sneezing Etiquette

With all the news on Swine Flu and the prevention of spreading the germ we thought we would give a few tips on the etiquette of sneezing.

Sneezing in public at any time is not glamorous, it can be an opportunity to consider those around us.  If you are caught out with no tissue the correct thing to use is the elbow pit or forearm.  We should all carry in our handbags, briefcase, desk and car  a mini anti-bacterial hand wash and a packet of tissues.  One should always wash hands after sneezing to prevent the spread of germs but it is not always convenient to do so, this where the anti-bacterial cleanser comes into force.   

Finally there is the challenge of nose blowing.  When we sneeze we feel the need to blow our nose but not wishing to cause offense we tend to dab our nose, at this stage it is more polite to excuse ourselves from the company and privately have a good blow and prevent further sniffing and dabbing of the nose.

By making these small efforts we demonstrate to others our hygiene standards and our consideration towards our colleagues. 

Summary: Utilize your elbow, have a tissue on hand, anti-bacterial cleanser in your bag and/or wash your hands.   Don’t forget the all important ‘excuse me’ when sneezing.