Given that a young child can touch over 300 surfaces in 1/2 hour, the worst place for them to cough and sneeze is their hands. That is a guarantee that the germs will be spread faster than light and soon get everyone around the child sick.
Next time you see a young child cough and sneeze into their hands, watch where the hands go next. It is an eye opening experience.
So where can they sneeze and cough? A tissue? If you could get them to stop and get a tissue before they cough or sneeze maybe. But think about it, would a child consistently stop and get a tissue? Not likely.
That is why the medical community and many others advocate teaching children to cough and sneeze into their elbow. When you think about it, it does make sense. Hands touch surfaces, your inner elbow doesn’t.
Try touching a surface with your elbow - it is hard to do! Also, just like our hands, the elbow is always there whereas a tissue may be out of reach or not even within reach all the time.
But don't take my word for it. Check out other advocates of coughing and sneezing in your elbow or sleeve:
Germy Wormy makes teaching them to cough and sneeze into their elbow fun!
Let Germy Wormy get all of your child's germs instead of you! You will be amazed at the reduction in illness in your world!
