"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. According to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), if you don't wash your hands frequently,
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 frequently (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! 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 and played
with your dog. Whatever you did