I have been in the weather business for over thirty years and I can’t count the amount of comments I have received from people blaming the weather for their health problems. The cold air has me down, the changing weather caused my flu, the blast of chilly air gave me a cold, and the list goes on and on. That’s why I love the latest study from the Department of Commerce about passing germs on to people during the cold and flu season. The study claims that 80 percent of all infections are transmitted by an individual’s hand. Harmful germs can live on almost anything you touch, from doorknobs to computers, animals and even food. Hand washing can be the single most important action you can take to help stop the spread of infection and stay healthy. As we enter the cold and flu season it is important to keep your hands clean when you are around people who are coughing or sneezing. Frequent hand washing can keep the frequency of infections down at your house. Here’s one way to know that you are washing your hands properly. First wet your hands and then apply soap and scrub for twenty seconds to remove the most stubborn germs. Twenty seconds is about the time it takes you to sing Happy Birthday to yourself twice!