Keep Illness from Spreading
Small actions make a big difference
We all share the same air and surfaces — so we all play a part in keeping each other healthy.
Simple steps like covering your cough, washing your hands and staying home when you’re sick can stop germs before they spread.
Practice Good Health Manners
These small habits help everyone stay healthy:
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw away used tissues right away.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer if soap isn’t available.
- Stay home when you’re sick.
- Don’t share eating utensils, drinking glasses, towels or other personal items.
Cover Your Cough
When you cough, sneeze or even talk, tiny droplets can spread through the air. If those droplets reach someone’s nose, mouth or eyes, they can make that person sick.
If you have a fever, cough or rash, tell your health care provider. They may give you a mask to help protect others.
Diseases that spread through droplets include:
- Colds
- Flu
- Whooping cough
- Bacterial meningitis
- Coronavirus infections, including COVID-19
- Mumps
- Measles
- Rubella
- Varicella (chickenpox)
- Smallpox
Don’t worry if you see staff or other patients wearing masks — it’s one of the best ways to keep germs from spreading.
Wash Your Hands
Clean hands save lives. Wash your hands well and often to stop the spread of many illnesses, including stomach illnesses caused by E. coli, norovirus and shigella.
Some bacteria, like norovirus, can’t be killed with hand sanitizer alone. That’s why washing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds is the best choice.
More Everyday Ways to Stay Healthy
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Get vaccinated! Flu vaccines and pneumococcal vaccines (pneumonia) can prevent serious illness. Visit:
More tips: Preventing Respiratory Illnesses (CDC)
More Resources
- Good Health Manners factsheet (English, PDF)
- Modales de buena salud - hoja informativa (Español, PDF)
- "Keep Illness from Spreading" posters (English/Spanish)
- "Keep Illness from Spreading" bookmarks (English/Spanish)
- Washing Your Hands posters (English/Spanish)