Cover Your Cough
Information for Patients
from Infection Prevention and Control
www.hrh.ca
How is the Flu spread?
Respiratory illnesses, like the Flu, are spread by:
• Coughing or sneezing
• Unclean hands.
These illnesses spread easily in crowded places where people are in close contact.
What can I do to prevent the spread of the Flu in the hospital?
1. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue. Dispose of the used tissue in the
waste basket. If you do not have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve, not
your hands.
2. Clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water.
3. Always clean your hands:
• After using the bathroom
• After blowing your nose
Alcohol-based
Hand Sanitizer
• Before eating and drinking
• Before and after you touch your dressing or wounds
• When your hands are visibly dirty (soiled)
• Before you leave your room.
4. Tell the doctor if you had close contact with someone who was ill with fever and cough.
5. We may ask you to wear a mask in public. Don’t worry if you see staff and other people
wearing masks. They are preventing the spread of germs.
6. Remind all staff, family members, and other guests to clean their hands before and
after they touch you.
Courtesy of The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
English: This information is important! If you have
trouble reading this, ask someone to help you.
Form # 001171
Italian: Queste informazoni sono importanti! Se ha
difficoltà a leggere questo, chieda aiuto a qualcuno.
© 2009_06 REV 2016_11
Spanish: ¡Esta información es importante! Si tiene
dificultad en leer esto, pida que alguien le ayude.
Page 1
What can we all do to stop the spread of Flu germs?
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue every time you cough
or sneeze. Throw the used tissue in a waste basket and clean your
hands.
• If you do not have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve, not
your hands.
• Clean your hands regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based
hand sanitizer, especially after coughing or sneezing. Encourage
others to do the same.
• If you are sick, stay away from others as much as possible. Stay
home when you are sick. Instead of visiting someone who is sick,
phone the person instead.
• Do not share eating utensils, drinking glasses, towels or other
personal items.
Alcohol-based
Hand Sanitizer
• Keep surfaces clean by wiping them down with a household
disinfectant, according to directions on the product label.
If you have a fever and cough, or have trouble
breathing, see a doctor.
For more information,
please contact your family doctor or nurse, or call:
Infection Prevention and Control
Humber River Hospital
Tel: (416) 242-1000 ext. 82400
www.hrh.ca