It's a message worth repeating — hand washing is by far the best way to keep kids from getting sick and prevent the spread of germs.
Here's how to scrub those germs away. Teach this to your kids — or better yet, wash your hands together often so they learn how important this good habit is:
To stop the spread of germs in your family, make regular hand washing a rule for everyone. It's especially important:
Good hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of many illnesses — from the common cold to more serious infections, such as meningitis, bronchiolitis, the flu, hepatitis A, and many types of diarrhea.
Germs can spread many ways, including:
When kids have contact with germs, they can become infected just by touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. And once they're infected, it's usually just a matter of time before the whole family comes down with the same illness.
So don't underestimate the power of hand washing! The time you spend at the sink could save you trips to the doctor's office.
You know that cleaning your hands is the best way to stop the spread of germs, but what’s the right way to wash your hands and use hand sanitizer?
Reviewed by: Yamini Durani, MD
Date Reviewed: Mar 10, 2023
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