It goes without saying that one of the most effective methods for staying healthy and stopping the spread of germs is washing your hands with soap and warm water. Each year, we highlight the importance of handwashing on October 15th, designated as Global Handwashing Day in 2008. The purpose of this day is to remind everyone that this is one of the best methods for avoiding illness and spreading germs. Furthermore, handwashing is also important at other times such as:
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After going to the restroom
- When preparing food
- Before a meal
It’s important to understand that the germs that make us sick can easily be spread if we don’t wash our hands regularly throughout the day. And that is one of the reasons that inculcating such habits in children becomes important. Considering the pandemic, the stress on washing hands has gained even more importance.
Education in Our Communities
Washing your hands with soap and warm water is not only a simple and inexpensive method for stopping the spread of germs, it can dramatically reduce illness in children. Additionally, teaching individuals about the importance of handwashing helps them as well as the communities they live in to remain healthy. Educating communities about this can successfully reduce:
- Absenteeism associated with gastrointestinal illnesses in school age children by 29% to 57%
- Diarrheal illness among individuals who have weakened immune systems by roughly 58%
- Number of individuals who get diarrhea by 23% to 40%
- Respiratory illnesses among the general population by roughly 16% to 21%
No matter what type of role you choose to play, be it educational or promotional, you can be a part of the celebration for Global Handwashing Day.
Global Handwashing Day History
The Global Handwashing Partnership founded Global Handwashing Day for the purpose of designing and implementing creative ways of encouraging individuals to regularly wash their hands with soap and water, especially in critical times. The first Global Handwashing Day took place in 2008. Since that time, communities as well as national influencers and leaders have used this day for spreading awareness about the value and importance of clean hands.
When you stop and think about it for a moment, there’s a great deal of value in what this day is promoting. While handwashing is a simple exercise in cleanliness, it can make quite an impact when you consider its efficacy where saving lives is concerned. As a result, Global Handwashing Day continues growing in popularity and is now endorsed by civil society organizations, governments, international institutions, private companies, schools, and more.
For more information contact your county health department or call Vital Imaging today at 305-596-9992 to schedule all your medical diagnostic imaging needs.