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Get ready to lather up and join in on National Handwashing Awareness Week, beginning on December 5! Begun in 1999 by a professor of infectious diseases, Dr. Will Sawyer and the Henry the Hand Foundation, this significant week focuses on promoting better hygiene practices to prevent illness and disease. This fun and critical celebration reminds us that something as simple as regular handwashing can be incredibly effective in protecting our health. So, let's look forward to making a splash and raising awareness about the power of cleaner hands during this pivotal week!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1999</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Beginnings of National Handwashing Awareness Week</div><div class='timeline-text'>Dr. Will Sawyer and the Henry the Hand Foundation introduce National Handwashing Awareness Week to enhance hygiene practices and prevent illness.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2001</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>CDC Adopts the Campaign</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advances the cause by emphasizing its importance in public health.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2005</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Global Handwashing Day Launch</div><div class='timeline-text'>Public awareness of hand hygiene spikes with the launch of Global Handwashing Day in October.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2009</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Swine Flu Pandemic</div><div class='timeline-text'>Hand hygiene gains wider importance during the H1N1 Swine Flu pandemic, with global attention focused on disease prevention practices.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2014</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Ebola Outbreak Statement</div><div class='timeline-text'>CDC emphasized hand hygiene as a primary protective measure during the West African Ebola outbreak.</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'>COVID-19 Pandemic</div><div class='timeline-text'>Handwashing with soap and water is identified as a key protective measure against the novel coronavirus, bringing the topic of hand hygiene to the forefront globally.</div></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Sing the handwashing song</h3><p class='facts-text'>Establish a tradition with your family of singing the "Happy Birthday" song twice, which should be equivalent to the recommended 20 seconds, every time you wash your hands. Not only will it be fun, but it will help to encourage proper handwashing techniques.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Create fun soap crafts</h3><p class='facts-text'>Show kids how fun handwashing can be by making creative soap crafts. Melt and pour soap is easy to use and can be molded into fun shapes or even contain small toys. The more exciting the soap is, the more likely kids will want to use it!</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Host a handwashing competition</h3><p class='facts-text'>Organize a competition within your family or friends circle where everyone has to show their handwashing technique. Winner could be judged based on thoroughness, time duration for more fun.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Educational outreach</h3><p class='facts-text'>Utilize this week to educate others on the importance of handwashing. You could create informational flyers or social media posts, or even host an informational session at your local community center, school, or workplace.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Decorate your handwashing stations</h3><p class='facts-text'>Whether it's in your home or a shared space, decorate the area around sinks to draw attention to them. This will act as a friendly reminder for people to wash their hands and keep the hygiene momentum going during the National Handwashing Awareness Week and beyond. </p></div></div>
<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'>It promotes health and wellness</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>National Handwashing Awareness Week is a great initiative that promotes good health and well-being. By keeping our hands clean, we can prevent the spread of diseases and keep ourselves and our communities healthy. The celebration serves as a timely reminder and reinforcement of this essential habit.</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's fun and educational</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Of course, another reason we love National Handwashing Awareness Week is because it’s both fun and educational! With activities like singing the handwashing song or making soap crafts, it's an enjoyable way to instill good habits in children. Not only this, but it also serves as a platform for parents and educators to teach kids about germs and the importance of hygiene in an engaging and interactive way. </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'>Encourages community involvement</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>The essence of National Handwashing Awareness Week is its focus on community education and outreach. Hosting handwashing competitions, decorating shared spaces or creating informational sessions provide a chance to get involved and work towards a common goal - promoting public health. It instills a sense of community spirit and gives us an opportunity to give back to our community in a meaningful way. </p></div></div>
<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'>Hand sanitizers do not replace handwashing</h3><p class='facts-content'>Though hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations, they do not get rid of all types of germs and may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.</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'>Handwashing prevents antibiotic resistance</h3><p class='facts-content'>By washing our hands properly, we can reduce the risk of getting sick with Salmonella, E. coli, and norovirus and reduce the need for antibiotics, which in turn can prevent antibiotic resistance.</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'>Handwashing habits vary globally</h3><p class='facts-content'>In some countries, handwashing habit rates can be as low as 19% while in others it can be as high as 97%. This highlights the need for increased awareness and education on global hygiene practices.</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'>Most people do not wash their hands for long enough</h3><p class='facts-content'>Research has shown that the average person only washes their hands for around 6 seconds, not nearly enough to effectively remove germs and lessen the likelihood of disease transmission.</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'>Handwashing can save lives in healthcare settings</h3><p class='facts-content'>In healthcare settings, hand hygiene can prevent potential deadly healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), that each year, result in thousands of deaths in the United States alone.</p></div></div>
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