Cut the risk of getting sick with common sense

To decrease your chances of getting sick:

• Wash hands frequently at home, school or work. Always wash before eating. Wash thoroughly for 15 full seconds with soap and water, rubbing soapy hands away from the water to form a lather. Wash the front and back, between fingers and under nails. Rinse well and dry with a clean towel.
• Avoid touching the nose, eyes and mouth except when necessary, and wash hands before and afterward.
• Cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Disinfect surfaces and objects that are touched and handled frequently, such as telephones, stair rails, doorknobs and toys.
• Don't share personal items such as toothbrushes, and don't eat or drink from others' plates or glasses.
• Don't send children to school or day care with cold or flu symptoms.
• Don't ask for antibiotics if the sickness is a cold, the flu or some other virus. Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections, and overuse can lead to antibiotic-resistant infections.