Don't get caught dirty handed! Now that I have your attention, I'd like to talk about the importance of hand washing in the prevention of the flu and upper respiratory infections among Penn State students.

A study conducted in 2005 by the American Society for Microbiology, reported that 91% of adults say that they wash their hands after using public restrooms; however, just 83% were observed doing so in public restrooms. 90% of women washed their hands while 75% of the men did so.

Even smaller percentages of Americans wash after petting animals, coughing, sneezing or handling money. And what about one of the greatest culprits--computer labs? Studies have shown that of all office equipment, the computer keyboard and the telephone are the items with the greatest number of bacteria.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent the transmission of disease. Yes, that's right; hand washing helps prevent colds and flu! How does this work? Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

Why does this work? Soap acts to lift bacteria from the skin.

The act of rubbing your hands together and rinsing off the soap is the key.

It is the scrubbing action that helps dislodge and remove the bacteria and the bubbles created by the soap help lift the germs up and then you can rinse them away.

What is the most effective way to get the job done? Use soap, running water and hum a 10 to15 second song such as "Happy Birthday," the "A, B, C" song or even "Yankee Doodle."

Make sure you rinse your hands well. If you are in a public restroom, reach for a paper towel and use the towel to turn off the faucet.

What about hand sanitizers? According to the CDC, they help. They are a good supplement for hand hygiene but they cannot replace hand washing.

When your hands are visibly soiled, these new, alcohol-based rubs are effective in reducing the number of germs on your skin. Other things you can do to reduce the spread of colds and flu include coughing in your sleeve, not in the air, and using tissues when you sneeze.

For yourself, get plenty of sleep, eat healthy foods, and make sure you exercise. Keeping your immune system in good shape helps ward off colds and flu.

One more thing: if you smoke, realize that smoking significantly increases your risk of getting colds and flu and suffering even more from them. University Health Services kicks off the annual Quit and Win Smoking Cessation Campaign tomorrow.

This might be the right time for you to do what you've always wanted to do, quit smoking. Visit www.sa.psu.edu/uhs for more information and to register for the Quit and Win.

So Penn State, don't get caught dirty handed! Wash those hands, protect yourself from cold and flu, prevent the spread of illness to others--and have a healthy Spring Semester!