Flu season is in full swing.  With kids back at school and germs everywhere you go, we wanted to share some good advice for keeping germs at bay. The most important factor is having your family wash their hands properly and frequently. Here are the recommended times to wash your hands.

Always wash your hands before:

• Preparing food or eating
• Treating wounds, giving medicine, or caring for a sick or injured person

Always wash your hands after:

• Preparing food, especially raw meat or poultry
• Using the toilet or changing a diaper
• Touching an animal or animal toys, leashes, or waste
• Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing into your hands
• Treating wounds or caring for a sick or injured person
• Handling garbage, household or garden chemicals, or anything that could be contaminated

Instructions on how to wash hands:

• Add a few drops of soap to your child’s hands and have them rub the soap around to work up a lather
• Rub hands together vigorously for at least 20 seconds. To mark the time, your child can sing a popular song or a verse of a song in their heads that lasts about 20 seconds, such as the ABC’s, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” “The Wheels of the Bus Go Round” or “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”

What fun ideas do you have to prevent the spread of germs?