To ask what you do if you come across somebody with a compromised immune system? I mean, if you sneeze or cough.

[hellokittymania]

Hi, I'm just wondering about this since I really don't know much about compromised immune system's and help people go about their business if they have to go out in public. I'm sure they run into people who sneeze, cough every day. Anyway, I was at Starbucks and I was sitting about 6 feet away from A man. I sneezed. Just once, and it was a fever. He went ugh and then he kept going on about he didn't have a tissue, and the lady with him didn't have a tissue either. They didn't say anything to me, and I don't know if they were going to give me the tissue or what? Anyway, I got up to just grab a few napkins, but when I got back they were going on about germs. I said That I wasn't actually sick and I had hayfever. The man calmed down, but I'm just wondering if I should have moved? I was worried what would happen if I needed to sneeze, or cough after that. I was sitting next to the door, so I would have gone outside to do it. I don't want to make somebody sick.

Sorry, dictation messed that up. I have hayfever.

Please excuse the mistakes in the post, most of you are familiar now with my dictation and the mistakes it can make. I don't write my messages, I speak using dictation and things don't come out correctly sometimes.

It's good manners to sneeze into a tissue then throw it away.

If you think you are going to sneeze, have a tissue ready, sneeze into the tissue then throw it in a bin.

If you are going to cough, at the very least cough into your hand, then wash your hands as soon as you can or use a small hand sanitiser.

Sneezing and coughing without covering your nose or mouth does spread germs if they are the cause, but in any case it is very bad manners to sneeze or cough without covering your nose or mouth as it sprays and splatters everywhere and is unpleasant for other people.

If you come across them then a cough or sneeze is the least of their troubles

Anyway, I think you’re overthinking this massively. Persons who have a compromised immune system will either take steps to protect themselves (face mask or whatever) or not go to public places when it’s likely to be busy. You can practice good hygiene even if you have a cold or whatever, and lives can’t stop if you have a minor sniffle.

I think you just had an unfortunate encounter with some snotty (pun intended!) people.

PS I have assumed that you sneezed into your hand or elbow and not just let it spread everywhere.

If they were that concerned about germs, they would have taken their own steps to avoid being in public places where they might be exposed to them. That’s how my parents reacted at least, after my dads bone marrow transplant. The onus is on the person who’ll be worst affected, surely??

OK, thank you. I try to remember to carry tissues but I forget sometimes.

Princess, yes I try to cover my mouth with my elbow, hand, whatever.

While I was sitting there, somebody walked into a door with their drink and he was talking about that quite loudly as well. And the person actually had spilled a drink on me. I didn't say anything though, and it wasn't a hot drink. Thankfully.

Maybe somebody was having a bad day, or maybe he's like that in general. But I would rather be on the safe side, and I would feel very very bad if I made somebody feel. So I would rather ask.

I never sneeze into my hand. Always on my upper arm. I read that was best because then you don't touch anything and spread the cold germs.

Someone close to me had compromised immune system for a time recently. We never went anywhere without hand sanitiser, tissues, wipes etc. Obviously you expect people to have basic manners, but to me, it was our responsibility, not anyone else's. We wouldn't have gone anywhere too crowded.

Thank you for thinking about this!! I think you’re fine though as long as you’re not being a massive minger coughing and sneezing on everyone, or going out with anything contagious.

And yes, we tend to avoid places with lots of people or with shit washing facilities!

I have a compromised immune system due to medication I take. I also work in an infant school so I am surrounded by bugs and germs all day every day; infant school children are not known for their impeccable hygiene generally.

So, I take responsibility for my own health. I carry tissues and wipes. I usually have an antibacterial spray nearby. I clean the equipment we use fairly regularly. I ensure I'm up to date with flu jabs, etc. And I wash my hands fairly often too. It wouldn't cross my mind to get cross with someone at another table sneezing once!

I carry anti bacterial gel, and I move away quickly from anyone whi ‘looks’ I’ll, or I hear saying have been ill. I can’t avoid everyone, but selfish people who take kids out with chicken pox or D&V annoy the hell out of me.
I don’t go to crowded places like cinemas and football matches etc.

We have an immunocompromised person in our family. We cancel meetings with friends or family when they are sick which has meant some disappointment at holidays, but it just happens. Otherwise, you go through life as best as you can and wash hands frequently.

People cover their sneezes and coughs as best as they can. Not everyone is going to
catch every sneeze in time as they sometimes get you by surprise.