Every year, we observe National Handwashing Awareness Week during the first week of December. In 2024, December 1-7 is a week dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of hand hygiene to stay healthier.
What is National Handwashing Awareness Week?
National Handwashing Awareness Week is a week-long event that highlights the significance of hand hygiene. The focus on hand hygiene has been a critical component of global health strategies to reduce the spread of infections, especially during peak illness seasons like winter. Although National Handwashing Week doesn’t have formal historical roots like some other observances, it aligns with global health initiatives focused on promoting effective hygiene practices.
What Is the Origin of National Handwashing Week?
The specific origin of National Handwashing Week is not well-documented, and to my knowledge, is not attributed to a particular individual or organization. Instead, it emerged as part of broader public health efforts to promote hand hygiene. Public health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with schools, healthcare organizations, and other community groups, have adopted and promoted this observance to increase awareness about the importance of handwashing.
Why do We Need to Talk About Health Habit of A Handwashing?
Handwashing is an important health habit. Handwashing is a seemingly simple habit. Nonetheless, a number of people still did not develop that routine skill into a habit. Some people, surprisingly, even after the pandemic, do not even perform handwashing in situations that are critical to prevent the spread of germs and diseases. Yet, that seemingly simple health habit can be powerful in protecting our health. As an example, check out this observational article in a real-life situation.
By understanding the significance of consistent handwashing and proper handwashing techniques, we can all contribute to creating healthier communities.
What Are the Origins of Hand Hygiene Awareness?
The origins of hand hygiene awareness can be traced back to the mid-19th century with the pioneering work of individuals like Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis and Florence Nightingale. Dr. Semmelweis discovered that handwashing significantly reduced the incidence of puerperal fever in childbirth, while Florence Nightingale advocated for sanitary conditions in medical facilities, including regular handwashing.
Public health organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), have long emphasized the importance of handwashing and its role in health. National Handwashing Week is a part of these broader efforts to remind people of the simple yet effective practices that protect public health.
What Diseases Does Proper Handwashing Prevent?
Handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the transmission of a number of diseases including the common cold, flu, COVID-19, norovirus and a number of other respiratory and diarrheal diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regular handwashing can reduce the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 23-40% and respiratory illnesses by 16-21%. This simple habit is a cornerstone of public health.
Importance of Proper Handwashing Techniques
It’s crucial to wash your hands using a proper handwashing techniques to ensure you’re effectively removing germs. Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure you’re doing it right:
- 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. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
You should wash your hands with soap and water whenever possible.
However, if soap and water aren’t available, you can use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol - Scrub your hands – but how to do it right?
No timer needed
Make sure to wash ALL areas of your hands: palms, back of hands, thumbs, fingernails. Fingertips and wrists. In my opinion, and according to the Indelible Learning handwashing system, that is MORE important than the duration of handwashing.
Not sure how to do it well: download Bubble Beats Trainer on Apple Store or Google Play to learn how to do it properly. - Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them. DO NOT use air blowing machines.
When Should You Wash Your Hands?
Knowing when to wash your hands is just as important. Here are key moments when handwashing should be performed:
• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before and after eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• After using the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After touching garbage
• After changing diapers
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After wiping counters or cleaning other surfaces with chemicals
• Before and after changing contact lenses
A week-long Emphasis on Handwashing in Early December
The specific week-long emphasis on handwashing in early December helps to reinforce these practices, especially during the cold and flu season when germs spread more easily. It encourages individuals and communities to cultivate habits that can lead to long-term improvements in health outcomes.
By highlighting National Handwashing Week, at Indelible Learning, we aim to improve public health outcomes through increased awareness and education on proper handwashing techniques.
By observing National Handwashing Week, we continue a legacy of promoting wellness and disease prevention in our daily lives.
Jasminka Vukanovic-Criley MD, FACP, FHM is a multiple award-winning physician, from cancer researcher, internal medicine physician, and Medical School Associate Clinical Professor to entrepreneur. She has mentored many undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students and faculty. She is the Principal Investigator on studies from the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Education creating research-driven #edtech games and digital media to improve health, civics, science education, and healthy habits. Dr Criley is also a founding Board member of Physician’s Weekly. She can be reached on X at @criley_md and at www.linkedin.com/in/jasminka-criley-md