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Global Handwashing Day

Join the world in celebrating Global Handwashing Day - get tips on proper hygiene and handwashing techniques to keep yourself healthy!
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Category
Health
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When it is?
October 15
Location Icon
Country
International
Introduction

Get ready to celebrate Global Handwashing Day on October 15 and learn more about the importance of hand hygiene! This day was first started in 2008 by the Global Handwashing Partnership and is celebrated every year as a reminder that washing our hands with soap can help reduce illnesses and save lives. So, let's get excited to make handwashing part of our daily routine!

History of Global Handwashing Day

Global Handwashing Day Dates

Global Handwashing Day Timeline

<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1847</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Semmelweis Advocates for Handwashing</div><div class='timeline-text'>Doctor Ignaz Semmelweis began advocating for handwashing in hospitals to reduce the incidence of puerperal fever among women after childbirth.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1980s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>WHO Hand Hygiene Guidelines</div><div class='timeline-text'>The World Health Organization established hand hygiene guidelines for healthcare workers to reduce the spread of diseases.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1995</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>CDC Hand Hygiene Guidelines</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued its first comprehensive hand hygiene guidelines for American healthcare providers.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2008</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Global Handwashing Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>Global Handwashing Day was established by the Global Handwashing Partnership, with the aim of making hand washing with soap a global habit.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2013</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>New Global Handwashing Campaign</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Global Handwashing Day campaign focused on the theme "The power is in your hands", aiming to empower individuals to prevent diseases through handwashing.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2020</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Hand Hygiene for All</div><div class='timeline-text'>During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Global Handwashing Partnership and partners launched the Hand Hygiene for All initiative, aiming at a global culture of hand hygiene.</div></div></div>

How to Celebrate Global Handwashing Day

<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a handwashing party</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather your friends and family for a fun handwashing party.  Make it a special occasion by providing snacks, decorations, and games to make the event memorable.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create a handwashing challenge</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Invite your friends and family to join you in a handwashing challenge. The goal is to see who can wash their hands the most times in one day. Set up an online leaderboard to track progress.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Make a handwashing video</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Make a short video highlighting the importance of proper handwashing technique and post it on social media. Ask your friends to share it and help spread the word about Global Handwashing Day.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Organize an educational event</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Organize an event in your community or school to educate people about the importance of handwashing and how to do it properly. Invite local health experts or public health officials to speak at the event.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Start a handwashing campaign</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Create posters, flyers, and other materials that explain why good hand hygiene is so important and distribute them in your community or school. Ask people to pledge to wash their hands more often and reward them with small gifts when they follow through.</p></div></div>

Why Global Handwashing Day is Important

<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Handwashing prevents the spread of disease</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Proper handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of disease. Washing your hands regularly can reduce the risk of illnesses such as colds, flu, and foodborne illnesses, as well as potentially life-threatening diseases like E. coli and Salmonella.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It promotes good hygiene habits</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Infectious diseases spread easily when proper hygiene habits are not practiced. Global Handwashing Day serves as a reminder to people all over the world about the importance of washing your hands regularly with soap and water in order to keep yourself and others healthy.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It empowers communities</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Global Handwashing Day has the power to bring together whole communities and encourage them to prioritize health through good hygiene practices. By setting aside this day each year, people are reminded that basic handwashing can save lives and create healthier communities around the world!</p></div></div>

5 Unexpected Facts for Global Handwashing Day

<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Handwashing can reduce diarrheal diseases by 50%</h3><p class='facts-content'>According to the World Health Organization, practicing proper handwashing can reduce the risk of diarrhea, a leading cause of child mortality, by almost 50%.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Schools with hand hygiene programs report less absenteeism</h3><p class='facts-content'>Studies show that schools with structured hand hygiene programs report lower rates of absenteeism due to illness.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Hand Hygiene Day was first celebrated in over 70 countries</h3><p class='facts-content'>The inaugural Global Handwashing Day was celebrated in over 70 countries worldwide, making it a truly global initiative from the outset.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Handwashing uses less water than some might think</h3><p class='facts-content'>A quick, efficient handwash uses only one gallon of water, less than some home appliances use in a single cycle.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Soap works by physically removing germs</h3><p class='facts-content'>Soap doesn't necessarily kill germs, but it works by removing them from your skin. It breaks down the natural oils on our hands that germs cling to and allows them to be rinsed off with water.</p></div></div>

Global Handwashing Day FAQs

When is Global Handwashing Day?

Global Handwashing Day is celebrated on October 15 every year. In 2024 Global Handwashing Day will occur on a Tuesday.

Global Handwashing Day Dates

Year
Date
Day

2023

Oct 15

Sunday

2024

Oct 15

Tuesday

2025

Oct 15

Wednesday

2026

Oct 15

Thursday

2027

Oct 15

Friday

Health Holidays