Stop Germs, Stay Healthy

Cover Coughs and Sneezes

Wash Hands Often

Stay Home 

when Sick

Other Web Links

• Pandemic Influenza
• CDC: Germstopper Resources
• Public Health Seattle & King County: Stop Germs - Stay Healthy
• Tacoma-Pierce County Public Health: Handwashing

Cover Coughs and Sneezes

The main way that illnesses like colds and flu are spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. This is called "droplet spread." This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air and are deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Sometimes germs also can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person that are on a common surface like a desk and then touches his or her own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands. We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, telephones and desks.

To help stop the spread of germs, Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or upper sleeve, not your hands. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Clean your hands "Cover Your Cough" Posters & Materials

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Wash Hands Often

Handwashing Simple handwashing is one of the easiest and most effective methods of preventing the spread of infection. When we forget to wash our hands, or don't wash our hands correctly, we can spread these germs to other people. Washing your hands correctly and frequently is the first step toward staying healthy and can help us avoid spreading and receiving germs.
How? How you wash your hands is just as important as when you wash them, especially when it comes to eliminating germs. Just rinsing hands quickly is not enough. Follow these steps when you wash your hands
WET your hands with warm water.  APPLY plenty of SOAP. SCRUB your hands together vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Wash the front and back of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails. Scrubbing your hands together loosens germs and dirt and allows them to be washed away.  RINSE your hands. DRY your hands with a paper towel. TURN OFF THE WATER with a paper towel.
	How do you know you have scrubbed your hands for 20 seconds?   Try singing "Happy Birthday" to yourself twice while washing your hands.
Plain soap and water are best!  You do not need to use antibacterial soaps, regular soap and water will kill up to 99.9% of common germs on your hands.  If you do not have soap and water available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
When? Before, during, and after you prepare food -- especially raw meat, poultry, seafood products, eggs, and fresh produce Before you eat Before and after changing a baby's diaper After you use the bathroom After handling animals or animal waste After sneezing, coughing, or using a handkerchief or tissue After touching any part of the body After handling garbage or trash Whenever your hands are dirty
Handwashing Lesson Plans and Activities: American Museum of Natural History: Infection, Detection, Protection CDC and the Soap and Detergent Association: SNAP (School Network for Absenteeism Prevention) Henry the Hand Foundation: Henry the Hand Hand Washing Hero Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Did you Wash 'Em? National Sanitation Foundation: Scrub Club Handwashing Demonstration Products: Brevis Corporation Glo Germ Company

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Stay Home When Sick

Stay home when you are sick and check with a health care provider when needed. When you are sick or have flu symptoms, stay home, get plenty of rest, and check with your health care provider as needed.  Remember: Keeping your distance from others may protect them from getting sick.
Common symptoms of the flu include: fever (usually high) headache extreme tiredness cough sore throat runny or stuffy nose muscle aches, and nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, (much more common among children than adults).

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