The CDC recommends you use a tissue or even your sleeved arm to stop the contents of a cough. I say we need to go back to basics and carry an old proven method of containment: The hanky.

When I was a child, I was not allowed to leave the house unless I had a spotless white handkerchief in the right rear pocket of my pants. Mom would even throw a back up in my book bag inside a plastic bag “just in case” one was not enough or the original got used or lost.  If it was not used, it would go back in my pants the next day or if used, it went to the dirty clothes basket.

This was not an affectation. Back in the 1960s we were still dealing with Tuberculosis and it was drilled into out heads never to cough freely but to cover our mouths to prevent transmission. The handkerchief being white was to see if any blood would come out the lungs indicating some serious condition.

As civilization managed to push back on TB and other diseases, the use of handkerchief fell into the bin of the old stuff to be forgotten.  I also rebelled for a while, but I am cursed with over productive sweat glands and I may end up looking like Ted Striker in “Airplane.”

I did not like the old whit handkerchiefs, but when I came to the US in my 20s, I discovered the bandana and I carry at least one with me but more likely two.  I did a small post about bandanas being the cheapest EDC item and one with the most uses some time ago and still stands true.

Short of carrying a mask all the times, using a bandana to cover yourself when coughing is the best in terms of fast deployment and containing the cough by-products.  Push comes to a shove, you can use the bandana as rudimentary mask in case others are the ones spraying.

Bandanas run about a buck each or less most everywhere including Amazon and EBay with free shipping. I usually give them a couple of washes before suing them to get them soft.

But if you like handkerchiefs, go for it too. The idea is not fashion but health.