Practicing good hand hygiene is a simple yet effective way to prevent infections. Germs can get onto hands if people touch any object that has germs on it. It may be because someone coughed or sneezed on it or it was touched by some other contaminated object. When these germs get onto hands and are not washed off, they can be passed from person to person and make people sick. The best way to stay germ-free is to wash your hands often during the day with hot water and lather your hands for 20 seconds.