Sneeze into your SLEEVE??!! Are you KIDDING me?!

[RabbitMage]

See, I guess I don't get it. It's not like I'm blowing massive boogers onto my arm (which is usually bare at the elbow) or sleeve. Nor can one always get up and rush to the bathroom for a tissue or to wash their hands. If I'm in the middle of class, what's better: me turning my head away from my nearest classmate, sneezing into the crook of my arm to keep from spreading germs and spit everywhere, or sneezing into my hand, getting up, leaving class to wash it, then sitting back down?

I guess I'll keep being low-class, because it seems like a better solution to me.

 

[jerseygirl1]

Well, honestly, where I work, the field service people are more likely to have to sneeze into their sleeves. They work on machinery all day long, and they are not low class or crass. Sometime the most appropriate way to handle a sneeze when you have your arms stuck inside someone's million dollar piece of machinery is to sneeze into your sleeve. Our HR department actually suggested this to them out in the field when bird flu became rampant. It is better than sneezing into the face of a co-worker, or a customer. Also, it's not real easy to pick a Kleenex out of your pocket when you have both hands working at the same time - it's not safe nor recommended. Especailly when they are getting paid darn good money to make sure that fancy piece of machine is working right to make money to keep them in business. My two cents.
I say, whatever works so everyone is happy and healthy. Sometimes sneezes just cannot be avoided

 

[chickenofthesea]

I was brought up in a "polite house" as well.... though the thought of sneezing into some used material, followed by shoving it in our pockets was and still is a no-no. After all that mucus soaks through are you shaking my hand? I also was employed as a line cook and in the middle of cooking where would you like your cook to sneeze in a pinch? Turn his head to the left and hit the prepared food behind him? We were taught to sneeze into the crook of our arm if walking out of the kitchen and getting a tissue was not within our ability. What about the little kid in the grocery that doesnt realize hes going to sneeze in time to get a tissue out? Would you consider him/her low class or crass to not sneeze in someone elses face, or cart, or grocery item? Seems a bit "low-class" to judge a person by the way they sneeze. JMO

 

[Catstar68]

Oh, I'm guilty of the sneezing into my elbow. I'm often working in a cell culture hood, wearing gloves and if a sneeze sneaks up on me I can't use my hands but I can't not cover my mouth! Into the crook of the elbow it goes. There's no helping it.

 

[tnchickenut]

It might have been said... I only read the OP... but it is a RULE in alot of resturaunts that the servers and staff in general sneeze into your "elbow pit". Supposedly, you don't "spray" your germs and you don't use your hands.

I get what you are saying... but servers don't have time to dig out a kleenex. GRANTED they shouldn't be there at all... but we all know you don't have to be sick to have a random sneeze. With that said... it is a WRITTEN rule to not be at work as a resturaunt employee while merely showing symptoms of being sick, but realisticly... I have NEVER seen it inforced without the employee begging to go home. And I worked in resturaunt work for 10 years.

Personally, I'm a sneeze holder. lol. They say that is bad for your health, though... but like I said... 10 years of being around other people's food. You just try to hold it.

 

[speckledhen]

No, Rabbit Mage, the solution is to be prepared with handkerchief, kleenex or some other disposable rag. Sometimes, a sneeze will get away from you, sure, but to advocate always sneezing onto your arm will never seem right to me. If you're sick, stay home from work if you care that much about others catching your germs.

I really am surprised by most of the answers here. I honestly expected more people to be disgusted by this since I have only recently heard of this new thing "they" are advising.The fact that it seems completely acceptable, and even preferred, is quite telling to me, really. My mother would roll over in her grave if she saw us do such a thing. Maybe it's a good thing I don't have to work at a regular job and also the reason why I'm rarely ever sick.

I do understand that if it's your only option at the time, but to act like it is what should be done over other methods will never seem right to me.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Agreed.. IF it cant be avoided then i understand it then. That makes sense.

 

[LovinMyPeeps]

It's not a new thing. This has been around in the health care field for quite some time. Since as a respiratory nurse I will only agree to disagree so I digress... night all.

 

[speckledhen]

As I said below, I repeat:

Quote:
Whether or not it's been around for years or not, I have also been around for years, 54 of them, and I have never heard it, not once, till the recent campaign within the last couple of years. Yes, I watch TV and read extensively. Must have been a secret from the masses. I still say it's disgusting and won't be doing it. I'll stay with disposable cloth and hand sanitizers, but never fear... I rarely have contact with other humans in person so you don't have to be concerned. The world isn't the one I remember at all, I suppose.

Maybe I've been living in an alternate universe and didn't know it because I didn't realize the general popluation was doing this.

 

[chickenofthesea]

Quote:
Atleast (to me) that explains the close-mindedness of your opinion. People learn new things everyday; Pluto used to be a planet, cigs CAN kill you and you cant "catch" HIV by being in a swimming pool.... sneezing in your sleeve does not liken you to trash. Just because mama said it, does not always mean it is correct. To judge people based on using a tissue or a sleeve, I would think, would make your mother roll over faster... It would mine.