On Oct. 15 each year, Global Handwashing Day raises awareness about the importance of handwashing with soap and water. The 2024 Global Handwashing Day theme is “Why are clean hands still important?”

Handwashing with soap and water is one of the simplest, most effective ways to stop the spread of germs and stay healthy, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Keeping hands clean can help prevent diarrheal illnesses and respiratory infections, such as the common cold or flu.

Handwashing with soap and water is simple and inexpensive, and it can significantly reduce the number of young children who get sick. Teaching people about handwashing helps them and their communities stay healthy. Studies show that handwashing education in the community can:

• Reduce the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by about 23%–40%.
• Reduce the number of school days children missed because of gastrointestinal illness by 29%–57%.
• Reduce diarrheal illness in people with weakened immune systems by about 58%.
• Reduce respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by about 16%–21%.

Global Handwashing Day was founded in 2008 by the Global Handwashing Partnership, and is an opportunity to design, test, and replicate creative ways to encourage people to wash their hands with soap at critical times.

No matter your role, you can celebrate Global Handwashing Day. The Global Handwashing Partnership offers these tools for support:

• Global Handwashing Day planner’s tools
• Handwashing information
• Responses to frequently asked questions

In Bradley Co.’s Healthy Handwashing Survey™, this year nearly all Americans (95%) believe handwashing is important in maintaining overall health. Additionally, the survey found:

• Engaging in handwashing makes us feel safer and healthier–72% associate at least one of those feelings in the moment immediately after handwashing.
• Adult respondents, who are parents, work to instill this cleanliness habit in their children–63% ask their children to wash their hands, 39% buy fun soaps, and 30% incorporate it into their routine. 
• Americans wash their hands 89% of the time after using a public restroom. The majority of those who skipped the cleansing step cited a lack of soap or paper towels while others claimed nonworking sinks hampered their efforts.

“The aim of our survey is to keep the health benefits of handwashing with soap top-of-mind, especially as we head into cold and flu season,” said Jon Dommisse, Bradley vice president of business development and strategy. “Celebrating Global Handwashing Day is a natural outgrowth of that mission. This day is also an excellent reminder for facilities to provide clean, well-stocked, and maintained restrooms that support handwashing with soap.”

ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, is proud to announce the inaugural class of ISSA Emerging Leaders for 2024. This prestigious group of 30 industry professionals represents the next generation of visionaries in the global cleaning and facility solutions industry. They have been selected from a group of more than 100 nominations of industry professionals under the age of 40 for their outstanding contributions, leadership, and commitment to driving the industry forward.

The 2024 Emerging Leaders Class includes professionals from various sectors of the cleaning industry, including manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, distributors, building service contractors, in-house service providers, and residential cleaners. These individuals have demonstrated excellence in leadership, innovation, and a dedication to enhancing the cleaning and facility solutions industry worldwide.

“We are thrilled to introduce this dynamic group of global emerging leaders,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “Each of these individuals has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to excellence and innovation in their respective fields. We look forward to their continued contributions as they help shape the future of the cleaning and facility solutions industry.”

The ISSA Emerging Leaders Program was created to foster professional development and recognize up-and-coming talent within the cleaning community. As part of the program, these individuals will have access to networking opportunities, leadership training, and exclusive resources aimed at furthering their careers and contributions to the industry.

The 2024 Emerging Leaders class includes:

• Jack Anderson, Nilfisk Inc.business development manager, robotics
• Patrick Bannon, Tennant Co. director of industrial sales, U.S and Canada
• Lauren Belskie, Imperial Dade marketing operations manager
• George Boutsalis, Impact Cleaning vice president
• David Bradley, Penn State University custodial programs supervisor
• Jacob Buchholz, Buck Services Inc. warehouse coordinator
• Ashley Butler, GP PRO vice president and general manager
• Nate Calvert, KCooper Brands Inc. vice president of marketing and business development
• Juan Campos, Servicon assistant portfolio manager
• Ian Charlery, A1 Cleaning Services CEO
• Alex Crowley, Vonachen Group chief people officer
• Martine D’Amour, Diversey director of business development, ed/gov
• Nathalia De Oliveira, Partner Facility Solutions president
• Konstantin Ekelman, BradyPLUS director of sales
• Benjamin Fernandez, Verde Clean operations manager
• Adam Fox, S.P. Richards Co. vice president of marketing
• Andrew Gower, Avision field sales consultant
• Bethany Harrington, Western Maintenance Sales principal
• Carl Keil, Core America vice president of consulting operations
• Cheyn Knizeski, HHS director
• Jessica Laws, New Hanover County Government custodial crew leader
• Moshe Lewis, GOJO Industries corporate account director
• Daniel Lowery, CCS Facility Services vice president, corporate services
• Courtney Marcotte, Kimberly-Clark Professional capability development manager
• Alicia Navarro, Sunbelt Rentals market sales leader
• Sabine Rguig, Brenntag business development manager for HI&I North America
• Noah Scott, Elite Building Services director of digital solutions
• Lyana Spinner, All Seasons Cleaning owner
• Dinesh Wadhwani, ThinkLite Air CEO
• Chase Yacko, Canberra Corp. vice president of sales and marketing

As part of the Emerging Leaders Program, one individual will be honored with the ISSA Rising Star Award in Honor of Jimmy Core. Industry professionals can vote now to select a winner from this group to receive the prestigious title. The recipient of the Rising Star Award will be announced at ISSA Show North America on Nov. 19.