There are precautions we can take to protect ourselves and family from this potentially deadly disease. Beef should be cooked thoroughly. It would be ideal to avoid rare meat. Make sure that milk and juices consumed are pasteurized. Getting into a habit of washing fruits and vegetables prior to eating will also lower our risk of E. coli poisoning. If a child is suspected of having E. coli poisoning, parents should wash their hands regularly. The bacteria may be passed through fecal matter. Public pools and beaches also put us at risk for E. coli poisoning. Thus, we should avoid digesting the water.