Wash your hands!" How many times have you heard that from your parents? You might think they're just nagging you, but actually the most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands.
If you don't wash your hands well and often, you can pick up germs from other sources and then infect yourself. You're at risk every time you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. In fact, one of the most common ways people catch colds is by rubbing their nose or their eyes after the cold virus has gotten on their hands.
If people don't wash their hands often (especially when they're sick), they can spread germs directly to other people or onto surfaces that others touch. And before you know it, everyone around you is coming down with something!
Hand Washing
The First Line of Defense Against Germs
Think about all of the things that you touched today — from the telephone to the toilet. Maybe you blew your nose or played with your dog. Whatever you did, you came into contact with germs. It's easy for germs on your hands to end up in your mouth.
By frequently washing your hands the right way, you'll wash away germs — such as bacteria and viruses — that you have picked up from other people, through contaminated water and food, from surfaces like keyboards, or from animals and animal waste.