Home, at Play, and Out and About. Handwashing can help prevent diarrhea and pneumonia, two of the leading causes of death in children around the world. Washing hands at key times with soap and water is one of the most important steps you can take to get rid of germs and avoid spreading germs to those around you. Global Handwashing Day is celebrated every year on October 15th.
Keeping your body neat and clean is as essential to good health as nutrition, exercise, and sleep
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Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water. If clean, running water is not accessible, as is common in many parts of the world, use soap and available water. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean hands.
Scrub Club® to the Rescue
The Scrub Club® program is the first of its kind – a fun, interactive and educational Web site that teaches children the proper way to wash their hands. The site consists of a Webisode interactive games, educational music, downloadable activities for kids, educational materials for teachers and program information for parents.
Video: Animation Teaches Kids About Hand Washing
Helpful Tips
When Should You Wash Your Hands?
- Before, during, and after preparing food
- Before eating food
- Before and after caring for someone who is sick
- Before and after treating a cut or wound
- After using the toilet
- After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
- After handling pet food or pet treats
- After touching garbage
How Should You Wash Your Hands?
- 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.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
What Should You Do If You Don’t Have Soap And Clean, Running Water?
Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of germs on them in most situations. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs and might not remove harmful chemicals.
Hand sanitizers are not as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
How Do You Use Hand Sanitizers?
- Apply the product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
- Rub your hands together.
- Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.
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Wash your hands with soap at critical times, especially before eating, cooking, or feeding others. |
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Model good handwashing behavior and remind or help others to always wash their hands before eating. |
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Make handwashing part of your family meals |
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Establish places to wash your hands in the household, in your community, in schools, workplaces, and in health facilities. |
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Promote effective handwashing behavior change in research, policy, programs, and advocacy. |
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Global Handwashing Day is a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases. Global Handwashing Day is an opportunity to design, test, and replicate creative ways to encourage people to wash their hands with soap at critical times. www.globalhandwashing.org |
Video: The Latest on Hand Sanitizers
Personal Hygiene
Explore, educate and participate using learning activities, coloring pages, word puzzles for the everyday habits that keep harmful bacteria away from your skin, hair, and teeth. See how good hygiene prevents illnesses and helps you feel calm and confident. Discover other benefits of looking, feeling, and smelling great—especially as you get older! So grab your soap, toothbrush and a pair of fresh socks.
Public Downloads
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When available, we provide all our content with a Spanish version in our public download section. You can find additional material from sources listed in all our articles.
Download Handwashing Activities
About Global Handwashing Day About Global Handwashing Day Advocacy Toolkit About Global Handwashing Day Hand Hygiene Why How and When Brochure Food Safety Handwashing Story Activity Placemat Printable Page 8x14 or 11x17 Handwashing Activity Worksheets Handwashing Chart 
Handwashing Fight Germs Wash Your Hands Video Teaching Young Children Handwashing Family Guide Wash Hands Video - Spanish Washing Hands Safety Fact Sheet Washing Hands Safety Fact Sheet - Spanish What You Should Know The Latest on Hand Sanitizers Video What You Should Know The Latest on Hand Sanitizers Video - Spanish Download Scrub Club Activity Worksheets
Scrub Club 6 Steps Hand Washing Bathroom Poster Scrub Club Cast of Characters Scrub Club Cast of Characters - Spanish Scrub Club Gel-Mo on the Go Hand Washing Storybook Scrub Club Hand Washing Coloring Pages Scrub Club Hand Washing Coloring Pages - Spanish Scrub Club Handango Clean Hands Activity Worksheet - Spanish Scrub Club Handango Clean Hands Activity Worksheets Scrub Club Handwashing Activity Worksheets Scrub Club Influenza Enzo Wanted Poster Scrub Club Influenza Enzo Wanted Poster - Spanish Scrub Club Villains Poster Scrub Club Villains Poster - Spanish 
Scrub Club Wallpaper 1024x768 Scrub Club Wallpaper 800x600 Download Handwashing Educational Posters
Be a Germ Stopper at School and Home Poster for Boys Be a Germ Stopper at School and Home Poster for Girls Do Not Forget How-to Handwashing Safety Information Poster 1 Do Not Forget How-to Handwashing Safety Information Poster 2 Do Not Touch the TZONE with Your Hands Safety Information Poster Hand Awareness Safety Information Poster Handwashing Poster 1 Handwashing Poster 2 Handwashing Poster 3 Temperature Affect Germs Safety Information Poster What Germs Could Do To Your Hands Safety Information Poster
