On October 15, 2021 we are recognizing Global Hand Washing Day! This day symbolizes the importance and awareness of hand-washing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. Yes we all know how to wash our hands but do you know the most important times to wash? Are you sure you’re doing it properly? We’ve got you covered with how to ensure your getting those hands clean to help keep you healthy!
There are 3 quick facts about good ole fashion hand washing. It is easy, effective and affordable. As a Lansing Mom with young children hand washing is critically importance for our children’s overall health. On this day of Global Handwashing Day and certainly every day let us make practical choices in our homes. Here are some visual aids to show the World Health Organization process.
Digging Deeper
The two primary times to wash hands are after contact with excrement and before contact with food. Research has shown that these times may have the greatest impact on children’s health. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing hands:
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing;
- After contact with an animal, animal feed, or animal waste;
- After handling pet food or pet treats;
- After touching garbage.
According the the globalhandwashing.org website, handwashing with soap works the best because germs that can cause diseases lodge in dirt, grease, and the natural oils on hands. Water purely alone does not dislodge them, but soap helps break down germ-carrying oils. The soap facilitates rubbing and friction which can remove germs from hands, and so that germs can be rinsed away with water. With proper use, all soaps are equally effective at removing germs that cause disease. The clean smell and feeling that soap creates are also incentives for its use. I certainly love the feeling of cleaning fragrant full hands!
On the day the Global Handwashing Partnership advocates for hand washing as they believe that “handwashing with soap is key to protecting public health, and lead to benefits in nutrition, education, economic growth, and more.
How to Encourage Handwashing
We love to sing songs while washing hands. Classics like the ABC’s, Wheels on the Bus, Happy Birthday, “Baby Shark” and “Let it Go”. We also enjoy vibrantly scented soaps from various stores. Lastly, we advocate our children to be independent in the hand washing process. They gain confidence that they are able to do things for themselves. We try to make this continuous activity upbeat with the hope that when they are in others care it is second nature. All in all, let’s make fun out of routines and stay healthy!
We hope you’ll join us in ensuring that on Global Hand Washing Day your hands are nice and clean and washed thoroughly!
