Three nights ago, when this guy sitting next to me on the plane, sneezed, I knew right there and then that I was going to catch his cold.

His sneeze came so suddenly that I imagine he did not have time to cover his mouth. 

What can I do about the fact that I now have his cold?

I can curse him. I can try to understand him.  It won't help me to get rid of my cold.

In an attempt to help others — and yes, maybe even myself in the future — I can do two things:

(1)  PROVIDE ADVICE

If you know you have a cold and are liable to sneeze, and

If you are going to be situated close to other people, and

If you at all care about the health of others,

CARRY THOSE TISSUES CLOSE TO YOUR MOUTH. A shirt pocket would be fine.

In other words, BE PREPARED!

Some of us are prepared for sudden asthma attacks — with inhalers.

Some of us are prepared for sudden diabetic attacks — with insulin or something with sugar.

Some of us are prepared for sudden heart attacks — with aspirin (take 2 and chew).

But, prepared for sudden sneezes from colds, the most common form of infectious disease which often releases a wide-spread mist of germs — well, very few of us, it seems are so prepared.

(2)  TAKE ACTION

What would I do the next time I am seated next to someone with a cold?

I would say, “Here is a tissue to use in the event you feel the need to sneeze. Please put it in your shirt pocket, or hold it in your hand, where you can reach it quickly in the event of a sudden sneeze.”

Sounds crazy?  Not so crazy if you had the same experience as I had — being on the receiving end of a mist of germs sprayed in all directions by a “nice person” who did not have the time to reach that tissue in his/her pocket or purse.

Gesundheit!

You can email at robertebsen@hotmail.com