Environmental Health and Safety

Public Health Information Center

Protecting Yourself and Others from Respiratory Illness 

EH&S encourages general good health and hygiene practices, to help prevent the spread of respiratory illness infectious diseases including influenza and the common cold. Below are recommended steps to take to protect yourself and others: 

• Wash hands frequently 
• Cough into the bend of your elbow 
• Physical distancing (staying at least 6ft away from others)
• Staying home if you are sick 

EH&S recommends following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for the prevention of respiratory illnesses. Visit the CDC page to learn about how to protect yourself from respiratory illnesses. 

Proper hand hygiene is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of disease. Review the following resources for additional information on proper hand hygiene: 

• VIDEO: Fight Germs. Wash Your Hands!
• VIDEO: Cleaning Hands With Hand Sanitizer
• Visit the CDC's Use and Care of Masks page for more information for the use of masks