Hand Washing Directory
Washing your hands -- you know you're supposed to do it, but do you know why? Hand washing helps prevent diseases such as colds, flu, and other infections including food poisoning. You should wash your hands after doing things like using the bathroom, after sneezing or coughing into your hand, handling raw foods, and more. Follow the links below to find WebMD's comprehensive coverage about how hand washing benefits you and those around you.
Medical Reference
Food Safety Tips for Your Kitchen
Your kitchen is the heart of your home – but it can also be a case of food poisoning waiting to happen. Learn about foods that can make you and family sick and tips to keep your kitchen clean
Natural Prevention for Colds and Flu
Some simple steps can help prevent many colds, and perhaps even help ward off the flu. Learn more here.
Flu Prevention Strategies
Nervous about catching the flu this season? Try these key strategies for flu prevention.
Common Cold Prevention
The best way to stave off a common cold is to wash your hands. WebMD explains.
Features
6 Secrets of Super-Healthy People
Some people never seem to get sick. What are they doing that the rest of us aren’t? Learn their secrets.
How Doctors Avoid Cold and Flu Germs
With cold and flu season in full swing, we wondered how top docs personally battle nasty bugs each winter. Here are their expert tips for keeping pains, aches, sniffles, and sneezes at bay.
Teach Your Kids Cold- & Flu-Fighting Habits
Can a preschooler really learn ways to protect herself from cold and flu viruses? Here’s what the experts had to say.
6 Ways to Avoid Catching a Flu or Cold at Home
Use these tips to stop the spread of colds or the flu when someone in your house gets sick.
Video
How and When to Wash Your Hands
Which sex is the worst about washing up? Why is it so important? We’ve got the dirty truth on how and when to wash your hands.
Video: What Do You Do to Avoid Getting Sick?
When it’s cold and flu season, you want to avoid it as much as possible. But what are some positive things to do keep yourself healthy?
How a Doctor Avoids the Flu
I get asked a lot about how I avoid the flu. Here are my best tips.
Slideshows & Images
Slideshow: Wash Your Hands: The Dirtiest Places Kids Will Find
Wash Your Hands: The Dirtiest Places Kids Will Find
The dirtiest places your kids may play might be in your own house. See the biggest germs traps, both inside and away from the home.
A Visual Guide to Enterovirus D68
Enterovirus D68 is usually mild, but children with asthma are among those who are more likely to have serious complications. Get the facts on what it is, what causes it, what the symptoms are, when to call a doctor, and how it's treated.
Quizzes
The Truth About the Common Cold
The common cold can be uncommonly troublesome. WebMD tests your knowledge on this persistent health enemy by testing you on cold symptoms, cold germs, and cold remedies.
Do You Fall For Old Flu Myths?
Do you believe a flu shot can cause the flu? That you throw up with the flu? Take this WebMD quiz to find out just how much you know about influenza.
How Much Do You Know About Spreading Germs?
Take this quiz to find out how much you know about spreading germs.