Keep your hands clean

Updated Jun 27, 2014

Wash your hands with soap and water every time you touch a germy surface. But while germs are everywhere, sinks aren’t. As soon as you touch your face, you can transfer germs into your eyes, nose, or mouth which can lead to contracting a cold, the flu, or a gastrointestinal illness, says Georges C. Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. If you’re not near a sink, use hand sanitizer or wipes.