National Handwashing Awareness Week

December 1st - 7th is National Handwashing Awareness Week. Personal hygiene begins and ends with our hands. According to the CDC, keeping hands clean is one of the top steps to avoid getting sick and from spreading germs around. With the new flu season among us and COVID-19 more rampant than ever this is a pertinent action.  There are a variety of diseases and germs that are spread by not washing hands with clean, running water and soap. Data from numerous studies has shown that everyone should be scrubbing their hands for at least 20 seconds. If you do not have a timer you can hum the “Happy Birthday” song fully two times. There are five easy steps the CDC recommends when washing your hands: Wet, lather, scrub, rinse, and dry your hands.

5 Super Clean Facts about Hand Hygiene1:

Resources 

1. https://nationaltoday.com/national-handwashing-awareness-week/#:~:text=National%20Handwashing%20Awareness%20Week%20%E2%80%93%20December%201%2D7%2C%202020

https://www.nphic.org/nphichighlights/3811-newshighlight-2

https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/campaign.html

1. Handwashing equals happiness
   According to the CDC, handwashing can prevent 1 in 3 diarrhea-related illnesses and 1 in 5 infections, including the flu.
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2. Beware the twin killers for kids
   About 1.4 million children under age 5 die from diarrheal disease and pneumonia—the two most deadly afflictions for children worldwide.
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3. The dirty secret of public restrooms
   The CDC also reports that only 31 percent of men and 65 percent of women washed their hands after using a public restroom.
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4. Hand wash your way to health
   Using antibiotics creates antibiotic resistance. Handwashing prevents many sicknesses, so people need fewer antibiotics.
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5. Sneezes are mini hurricanes
   A typical sneeze exits the body at about 200 miles per hour and emits around 40,000 droplets into the air.