Coughing - how do you do it?

[MissPoldark]

Hopefully you do cover your mouth and cough away from others but many people still use their hand to cover their mouth when (in the absence of a tissue) using the inside of your elbow is a more effective way of preventing the spread of germs.
www.nytimes.com/2018/02/27/health/how-to-sneeze.html

[MissPoldark]

www.nytimes.com/2018/02/27/health/how-to-sneeze.html

[user1496146479]

Always cough into elbow!! Hate seeing people coughing into their hands & then touching stuff!

[DoraleeRhodes]

Elbow here too!

[KnightandDay]

Elbow

[WingDefence]

Yep, elbow and have taught the DCs to do the same.

[Thunderpunt]

And same goes for sneezing!

[sundayfishfinger]

Eh!? Elbow? When is this is thing?

Is this the same as trying to lick your elbow

[Medievalist]

Hmmm. Have got a bad cough at the moment. There's no way I can cover my mouth with my elbow as effectively as I can with my hand.

[steff13]

I always elbow cough and sneeze.

[Buddyelf]

Elbow as well! It’s called the vampire method in The US Office

[Curiosity101]

For me it absolutely depends what I'm wearing. If I can cover my mouth / nose better with my elbow then I will. But if I'm wearing a short sleeved t-shirt (for example) then I'll use my hands and attempt to wash them ASAP whilst trying to avoid touching things on the way (or if I can use hand sanitiser and then wash my hands that's even better).

[BigGreenBaskets]

Elbow/arm.

Sneezing into your hand is disgusting. You can't normally wash your hands properly straight away so everything you touch will be covered in your lovely sneezy germs. You may as well just cough into the air.

[BigGreenBaskets]

Coughing as well as sneezing I mean!

[chesterfuckingdrorrs]

Elbow the majority of the time (as long as it's covered with clothes)

If I have to cough into my hands I try to be holding a tissue or wash my hands straight after

[fjreflycaramel]

Elbow here too.

[nachthexe]

The reads like a 1980s safety commercial. It’s amazingly patronizing, but I’m trying to figure out whether the op is genuinely curious about how people cough, or performing a public information service. Fascinating.

[Reginabambina]

I leave the room and cough either into a handkerchief or scarf/elbow if I neglected to bring one with me.

[MissPoldark]

sorry, I really didn’t intend to be patronising, I just rarely see other people doing it, and may other parents I know have taught their kids to cover their mouth with their hand.
I’m sick to the back teeth of people not covering their mouth when they cough. I’m gonna have to start telling people. I was thinking about sticking up some posters on the bus too. Might also hand out free tissues on the morning commute.

[Picklypickles]

I hold the sneezes in.

[MissPoldark]

Oh you should just let it out, I don’t think it’s very good for you to suppress a sneeze.

[AskingQuestionsAllTheTime]

I picked up the elbow-sneeze and elbow-cough habit years ago and have no idea where or why: maybe in North Europe somewhere? But I do it without thinking at all.

And when I do it I always get the feeling people are looking at me as if I were mad.

If it really is becoming the norm I shall be very glad of it.

[needanewnamechange]

I've never heard or seen the elbow thing before . If I cough I'll use hand sanitizer/ wash hands as much as possible. Germs are still going to spread a little anyway .

[MissPoldark]

Oh, I meant to say I’m so pleased to hear there are actually many existing elbowers!

Is this the same as trying to lick your elbow

Only the inside

[AmazingGreats]

I sneeze and cough somewhere near my arm between my arm pit and elbow, and wash my hands afterwards anyway. Force of habit I guess? I don't think I ever have time to get a tissue, unless I'm in bed with the flu or a sinus infection and the tissues are literally right next to me.

[AmazingGreats]

If I am near other people I step away and turn my head away from them as well, especially if there is any food in the general vicinity.