Starting today, WMATA is going to hand out free bottles of hand sanitizer at select Metro stations “to raise awareness of easy ways to reduce the chances of passing germs as the fall flu season begins.” The handouts are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. today, tomorrow and Thursday at these stations:

• Tuesday, October 28, at Eastern Market and Farragut North
• Wednesday, October 29, at Franconia-Springfield and Braddock Road
• Thursday, October 30, at Forest Glen and New Carrollton

Along with the hand sanitizer, Metro will also be handing out information pamphlets about how you can help prevent the spread of germs. And if you’re not going to be at any of these stations in time, we have a hot tip for the rest of you hoping to avoid picking up and/or spreading nasty colds and flus without the aid of a germ-killing alcohol-based gel: trying washing your hands! It totally works, and doesn’t require any free hand sanitizer at all.