October 15 is Global Handwashing Day

Washing your hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet can save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention, cutting deaths from diarrhea by almost half and deaths from acute respiratory infections by one-quarter.

The CDC says that hand washing is like a do-it-yourself vaccine with five steps: Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry. Wet your hands with clean, running water, 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. To properly time this step, hum the “Happy Birthday to You” song from beginning to end two times.

This is just one page from the 2020 Global Handwashing Day Factsheet, which you can download here.