The rapid spread of diseases like colds and the flu, and even gastrointestinal viruses is evidence that many people are not regularly washing their hands, or they aren’t washing thoroughly enough. Over the course of the day, germs accumulate on your skin, as they transfer from contact with other people or animals, as well as virtually every surface you touch.

Without the property hygiene, all these germs can spread dangerous illnesses including those related to food, such as salmonella and E. coli. The CDC estimates that 5000 Americans die annually from these food-borne illnesses. While not always fatal, salmonella and E. coli can cause stomach illness and intestinal distress in victims.

The market has been flooded with products for hand washing, including bar and liquid soaps, antiseptic hand washes, and instant hand sanitizers. When it comes down to it, the popular antibacterial soaps are no more effective at killing the germs on your skin than regular old soap and water. If you are away from a sink, a hand wipe or hand sanitizing gel can be used to reduce the germ count on your hands and keep you from spreading the germs around.

We urge adults to teach their children good hygiene habits, including but not limited to hand washing. Set a good example, and make sure your kids see you washing your hands regularly. If your children are still very young, wash your hands together to properly supervise their technique. A step stool in the bathroom will give children better access to the sink and soap they need to wash their hands.