It’s cold outside, school is in session, and the holiday season just wrapped up. All of this means one thing—it’s cough and cold season. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine to protect us from the common cold. The only way to keep the sore throat, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and wheezing at bay is to battle the spread of infection.

Keep you and your family safe with the following actions:

• Wash your hands often. After spending time in public spaces, be sure to wash off any unwanted germs you may have picked up. Don’t let those nasty little buggers follow you home.
• Wash your hands for 20 seconds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests washing your hands for 20 seconds. Just hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end to help time yourself.
• Cover your mouth when you sneeze. Protect others by covering your mouth. If you sneeze in your hands, be sure to go back to the previous two bullet points.
• Stay home when you are sick. This can be difficult if you are taking sick days from work or school, but try to stay home when you are sick to avoid sharing your germs with coworkers and classmates.
• Avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth. If and when you touch a germy item, touching your nose, eyes, or mouth is the quickest way to catch a cold.
• Spread the word, not the cold. Let people around you know about the actions above. You will improve your chances of avoiding the cold by surrounding yourself with other flu fighters.