Global Handwashing Day is now a day more relevant than ever as we get used to a world that has been changed by COVID-19. This day works towards increasing the understanding surrounding handwashing with soap and how it is a key factor for our health.
Global Handwashing Day was first held in 2008 which saw over 120 million children around the world washing their hands with soap in more than 70 countries. This day is now held every year on October 15 and is used to spread the importance about handwashing with soap.
Washing your hands properly with soap is estimated to decrease cases of diarrhoea by 30% and respiratory infections by 21% in children under the age of five.
How to wash your hands properly:
You should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water and since COVID-19 there has been an increase in the number of available resources online about how to properly wash your hands, including informative videos, dances, and songs you can even sing the Happy Birthday song to remember how long you need to wash your hands for.
The 6 Steps to Proper Hand Hygiene:
- Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold)
- Apply soap to your hands
- Rub your hands together, make sure you don’t miss the backs of your hands, between your fingers or under the nails
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds
- Rinse your hands under the water
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them
You can also use sanitiser when needed, this should be alcohol based that contains at least 60% you can find this out by looking at the product label.
It is particularly important that you wash your hands after leaving public places, especially if you have been touching a lot of doors etc. Make sure you don’t pick at or touch your face if you have not yet washed your hands.
Washing your hands with soap is one of the best steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others as many germs are spread when you don’t wash your hands.
This day helps to teach people the correct ways to wash your hands and to ensure that communities around the world are taking steps for their health, this is also encouraged by the set theme that is chosen each year.
After 2008, themes began being set and it started with “spread the word, not the germs” in 2009. Last year we saw the theme “our future is at hand – let’s move forward together.”
This year’s theme is “Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene.”
Washing your hands plays an important role in fighting off and reducing the spread of infection, good handwashing from an early age sets habits to ensure a lifelong healthy skill.
How can I celebrate and take part in Global Handwashing Day?
Activities include:
- Promoting handwashing by posting information about handwashing on social media
- Reinforcing messages about handwashing with soap
- Practice proper handwashing
- Learn from past mistakes that have been made
- Share safety concerns and how handwashing helps
Handwashing with soap changes lives.
If you want to learn more about how to keep yourself and others safe, then you can find our Infection Prevention and Control Course HERE
