[header] How to prevent hand, foot, and mouth disease [title] Wash your hands often. [step] Like many viral infections, the first line of defense against spreading hfmd is simply to wash your hands thoroughly and regularly. Your hands are most likely to come into contact with other people throughout your day and hfmd is spread primarily through direct contact. 
Teach your children the proper way to wash their hands to help them avoid contracting hfmd at school. [substeps] To properly wash your hands, run them under warm water to wet them, then apply soap.