National Handwashing Awareness Week Highlights Infection Protection

This is National Handwashing Awareness Week—the perfect time to brush up on hand hygiene now that cold and flu season is upon us. One of the best ways to prevent the spread of the common cold, flu, or even COVID-19 is washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. Studies have shown that handwashing can prevent one in three diarrhea-related sicknesses and one in five respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

National Hand Washing Awareness Week is sponsored by Henry the Hand Foundation and reminds us to be vigilant about hand-washing, especially this time of year because it’s cold and flu season. Henry the Hand Foundation offers the four principles of hand awareness:

1. Wash your hands when they are dirty and before eating.
   2. DO NOT cough into your hands.
   3. DO NOT sneeze into your hands.
   4. Above all, DO NOT put your fingers into your eyes, nose, or mouth.

The CDC offers these five steps to complete when washing your hands every time:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dryer.

If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.