1. Cough and sneeze in your arm or sleeve: It's the best way to avoid spreading germs. If you haven't broken the habit of coughing or sneezing into your hands, do it immediately! Your hands are the number one way of spreading germs everywhere.


2. Wash your hands as often as possible: We all hear this over and over again, yet how many of us truly take this to heart and do it? We must!
   
   If you have access to a nearby washroom, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for a recommended 10 to 15 seconds several times a day.
   
   When on the street, on a bus, cab, or at a party, keep your hands free from germs by using an alcohol-based sanitizer. Most brands, such as Purell now come in miniature bottles and packets, making them easy to carry in your wallet, purse, pocket, and even on the airplane.
   
   I keep bottles of hand sanitizers throughout my home, at my desk, in the car, and in my purse at all times. You may want to do the same.


3. Wipe all items you and others handle. Use sanitizing wipes to clean those items you and others touch regularly. That includes telephone receivers and doorknobs in your home and office, plus the stapler, computer keyboard and screen, copy machine, and steering wheel of your car.


4. Brush your teeth and use mouthwash before leaving the house. Since childhood, most of us have built the habit of visiting the bathroom before going out. Take an extra minute to brush your teeth and use mouthwash. It will freshen your breath and keep germs from spreading.


5. Carry tissues at all times. You never know when they may come in most handy. You don't want to look around for one desperately at the most inopportune time!


6. Wear a nose and mouth mask: More often we see construction workers wearing face masks to keep dust and other harmful particles from being breathed in. In many parts of the world this same type of mask is worn to keep germs to themselves when at work or on the street. Although we may think this extreme, it is a most considerate gesture.


7. Use a cold remedy: I'm not a person who takes pills of any kind. Yet when I must attend a meeting or event where I don't want to be sneezing and coughing in front of others, I will take a non-prescription cold remedy. This will not only mask the systems of the cold to feel better, it will also help everyone around me be more at ease.


8. What to do: Now that you've gained a few insights on germ prevention, I suspect you now know how to answer these two questions I get asked most often throughout the year:

• What should I do when I have to shake the hand of a person I just saw sneezing into their hand?
• If I have a cold while attending a party, shouldn't I tell people I don't want to shake their hand out of courtesy, to not spread my germs?
  
  In both instances you will shake the person's hand. In the first scenario, you may want to make a mad dash to "discreetly" wash your hands before doing anything else; in the second scenario you will keep your hands clean and take all precautions described above.

BONUS: Going to a party this month? Take a moment to review our December 2003 tip on Being A Perfect Party Guest.

Happy Holidays and Happy Practicing! We'll be back in January 2007 with more Etiquette Tips of the Month and other exciting news.

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