As we make our way through this year’s winter flu season and the new measles outbreak, please keep in mind these two very simple ways to help prevent the spread of viruses/bacteria/cooties…

1. Cough/Sneeze into your elbow or your shirt, not your hands. I see this all the time; people cough or sneeze into their hands (coating them with droplets of germ containing mucous) and then walk around touching things – door handles, elevator buttons, water dispensers, all the stuff. Then the next person to touch that thing picks up whatever germs you’ve just deposited, thereby insuring the continued spread of these illnesses. Coughing and sneezing into your elbow or shirt is a simple way to keep those germs contained and prevent the spread of illness.
2. Wash your hands often. Really. Hand sanitizer is not a substitute for good hand washing. And wash them properly, don’t just put a little soap on your palms and run them under the water… wet your hands, lather well (between fingers and backs of hands too), and then rinse thoroughly while scrubbing your hands under the water. Do this whenever you come home, after using the restroom, after coughing/sneezing into your hands (please don’t do this!), when touching germy stuff, and before touching your face or food.

These are two of the simplest things you can do to help prevent the spread of disease. Remember, simple changes can have big effects!