Should I clean the toilet or the doorknob?

Do you live with anyone else?

(The dogs don’t count.)

Everyone has at one point or another had to deal with someone else in the household having a cold.

Even if you don’t live with anyone now, when you were younger you did. Remember how the whole household suffered along with Mom’s cold?

Here is a challenge for you this winter: Stay well.

Kids get up to 12 colds a year. Ick. (I know someone who calls kids “little incubators” for germs.)

And, each year, five to 20 percent of the US population gets the flu and 36,000 people die. (Did you know that seasonal influenza is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable death in our country?)

Here is the simple truth: Respiratory illnesses are spread by coughing or sneezing and unclean hands.

It really is that simple – we probably would not get a cold or the flu this winter if we can avoid people who cough and/or sneeze, wash our hands frequently and avoid touching our faces. Getting a flu shot every year will help you boost your immunity to flu viruses, too.

If you have a cold or the flu, cover your mouth/nose when you cough/sneeze with a tissue – then throw it away immediately and wash your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, cough/sneeze into your upper sleeve – not your hands. If you can’t wash, used an alcohol-based hand cleaner. Most importantly, stay home when you are sick.

Model these easy behavior changes with your coworkers and teach your children these simple steps to avoiding a cold or flu this winter and not only will you stay well, but the people around you will be well, too.

And, oh yeah, the answer to the question in the title? The doorknob.