I had Baby From Mars at the gym creche the other day, when another child sneezed near us, and the attendant explained the importance of sneezing into your elbow - thus preventing the spread of germs via the air or through touch from a sneezed on hand onto toys or other kids.
I’d never heard this before, but I can see the logic of it - although it’s slightly more awkward than the traditional way (makes it easier to wipe your nose on your sleeve without being noticed though!:D). Is this a new thing, or are people doing this all the time and I just haven’t paid attention?
I learned to do it when working in food service. Yes, you were still supposed to wash your hands, but sneezing into your elbow is just more sanitary and it’s more convenient. I’ve been doing it ever since.
I answered yes then promptly sneezed and realized I do not sneeze into my elbow. I sneeze into the front of my shirt. When I feel a sneeze coming on I pull the collar of my shirt up (think “bandit” style) and sneeze down onto my boobs. If this is not possible - say, nice shirt or low cut - I’ll sneeze into my elbow. I am a mouth sneezer, though, so there’s no real risk of me snotting all over the place.
There are public service ads on the bus that show folks how to sneeze–they show a guy sneezing into his elbow. They’re almost always in Hmong, for some reason.
When I’m caught by a nasal orgasm, sometimes I can’t quite reach my elbow, so I put other, other being the area right above the elbow joint towards the hand.
“How do you sneeze into your elbow? My arms don’t bend that way?” Haha just kidding.
Children’s librarian here - yes, sneezing into the crook of the elbow is promoted heavily for everyone. Most every sneezer I see does it this way. Seems to have become SOP in the last couple years.
Normally, I’m also a shirt sneezer, but that’s on hold until the baby is weaned, because, you know, eeewww. I try to sneeze into my elbow, but that’s not always possible when holding an infant. Third choice is my non-dominant hand. Lately, though, I wash my hands so often that it’s not such a huge deal.
I learned that people did this when I worked with preschoolers eight years ago, and adopted the practice as well. It does seem to be more sanitary than sneezing on your hands because fewer things come in contact with the crook of your elbow than your hands.
I’ve seen many health care providers do this and will do it myself when in the company of others.
Personally, I’d prefer to remove myself from others’ presence and have a good sneeze into a tissue or turn my head and sneeze into a tissue. Sneezing into one’s elbow just looks so crass!
But sometimes a person just doesn’t get enough advance warning to manage a private sneeze.
I’m reminded of the old story of the Queen’s military and the supposed reason they have buttons on their sleeves.
