We do hope that handwashing is a regular practice that you do every day, but on October 15 you should put just a little more thought to it as it is Global Handwashing Day.
October 15 ‘Global Handwashing Day’, is a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.
The Global Handwashing Partnership (GHP) (formerly called “Public Private Partnership for Handwashing” (PPPHW)) established Global Handwashing Day in 2008 as a way to promote a global and local vision of handwashing with soap.
The aims of Global Handwashing Day are to:
⦁ Foster and support a general culture of handwashing with soap in all societies.
⦁ Shine a spotlight on the state of handwashing in each country.
⦁ Raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap.
Global Handwashing Day supports the 2013 Water for the World Act, which aims to improve effectiveness and efficiency of that part of U.S. foreign aid which is committed to global water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) by ensuring that funds will reach the neediest human populations who require WASH interventions the most.
Washing hands can keep you healthy and prevent the spread of respiratory and diarrheal infections from one person to the next. Germs can spread from other people or surfaces when you:
⦁ Touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
⦁ Prepare or eat food and drinks with unwashed hands.
⦁ Touch a contaminated surface or objects.
⦁ Blow your nose, cough, or sneeze into hands and then touch other people’s hands or common objects.
⦁ You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:
⦁ Before, during, and after preparing food.
⦁ Before and after eating food.
⦁ Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea.
⦁ Before and after treating a cut or wound.
⦁ After using the toilet.
⦁ After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet.
⦁ After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
⦁ After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste.
⦁ After handling pet food or pet treats.
⦁ After touching garbage.
To wash your hands, follow these five steps every time:
⦁ Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
⦁ Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
⦁ Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
⦁ Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
⦁ Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
How to Use Hand Sanitizer:
⦁ Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
⦁ Rub your hands together.
⦁ Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds.