It sounds simple, but maybe that's the reason people don't take it seriously. Washing your hands frequently is one of the best ways to protect yourself from infectious diseases. Since many infections are transmitted by touching things—doorknobs, other people's hands, railings, telephones, desktops, and other objects that carry disease—hand-washing is important for people of all ages, especially children. A 2005 study showed that hand-washing cut children's risk of pneumonia and diarrhea in half. Soap and running water are all you need, and if those aren't available, alcohol-based hand sanitizers also are effective.