With flu season in full swing and the coronavirus spreading rapidly throughout China, it's more important than ever that people take precautions to stay healthy. Officials in China have confirmed more than 6,000 cases of the respiratory illness and 132 deaths, and there have been five confirmed cases of the disease in the United States. As for the flu, there have been at least 15 million American cases this season as of Jan. 18 , including 8,200 deaths — 54 of which were pediatric deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control , one of the best ways to protect yourself from these illnesses is to wash your hands often, and with the right technique. When your hands are clean, you can prevent germs from spreading from one person to another. To successfully wash hands, follow these five steps recommended by the CDC. First, wet your hands with clean, running water — warm or cold. After turning off the tap, apply soap to your hands and rub them together. Make