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SICK PEOPLE: STAY THE FUCK HOME!!

I don’t care if you lack sick days, *I* don’t have time to get infected with your goddamn germs!

If you lack sick days because you’re always coming down with colds and/or flus, you need to improve your personal hygiene – regardless of your health status.

If you get sick often because you catch colds/flus from your small child in daycare, that makes you a germ-spreader, not a hero of any kind. Moreover, being such a parent is absolutely no excuse to disregard the health of others outside your own little family! As an adult member of society, you are still responsible for taking care not to infect others with your germs.

I’m a person in worse than average health, including genetically low immunoglobulin alpha – which predisposes me to upper respiratory infections. Furthermore, I regularly teach undergrads who, on average, have execrably bad personal hygiene. I also take public transportation regularly, which is famous for railings of dodgy germ status and close proximity to other passengers.

My total colds and flus for the past two winters? ZERO. I can’t remember the last time I got sick with a cold/flu, actually.

The reason? PERSONAL HYGIENE, not luck.

You think your personal hygiene is great? Well, if you’re getting more than one or two colds a year, it ain’t. Try harder.

For instance, if you think the public transportation system is where you typically get infected, (a) never touch a single railing without wearing gloves, and (b) add a mask over your nose and mouth if you feel extra-vulnerable. In all situations and at all times, don’t touch your nose or mouth with your fingers if you haven’t just washed your hands properly – for 30 seconds plus, with correct technique, using soap and warm water. And goddamn it, if you still pick your nose, grow up and give it up. Germs congregate under the fingernails like crazy.

Excellent personal hygiene works as an effective infection control mechanism for hospitals. The same should be good enough for you too. And if it isn’t? Screw you.

HOW TO WASH YOUR HANDS PROPERLY