Question

How can you easily prevent yourself from getting a pathogen?
Responses

wash hands with warm, soapy water

wash hands with warm, soapy water

share cups and eating utensils only with healthy people
share cups and eating utensils only with healthy people

empty the garbage only when full
empty the garbage only when full

bite fingernails to keep them short

Answer 1

To easily prevent yourself from getting a pathogen, the most effective approach from the options provided is to **wash hands with warm, soapy water**. This practice helps remove germs from your hands, significantly reducing the likelihood of infection.

Here’s a brief rationale for the other options:

- **Share cups and eating utensils only with healthy people**: While this can help reduce exposure, it is not always manageable or guaranteed to prevent infection, as pathogens can be transferred in other ways.

- **Empty the garbage only when full**: Keeping a clean environment is important, but this alone does not directly prevent pathogen exposure.

- **Bite fingernails to keep them short**: This is actually counterproductive, as nail-biting can transfer pathogens from your hands to your mouth.

Overall, consistent handwashing is a key strategy to help prevent getting pathogens.