National Handwashing Awareness Week
                                              
                                                            
National Handwashing Awareness Week is December 7th-13th, 2008. National Handwashing Awareness Week is the first full week in December each year.  Handwashing is the single most important act one can do to prevent the spread and acquiring colds, flu and flu-like illnesses.  The CDC estimates that 36,000 people die annually from the flu and flu-like illness, 5,000 people die from food borne illnesses annually, and as many as 90,000 patients die each year from hospital acquired infections.  Many of these deaths are directly linked to poor handwashing.  In addition to the 2 million patients who contract hospital acquired infections, the 70 million food borne illnesses and the countless colds that occur annually.
                                                
In an observational study sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), 92% say they wash their hands in public restrooms, but only 77% were observed washing their hands - a six percent decline from a similar study conducted in 2005.
 
The four principles of Henry the Hand's hand awareness are as follows:

1.  Wash hands when they are dirty and before eating,

2.  Do not cough into your hands; use a tissue or the sleeve of your shirt or jacket,

3.  Do not sneeze into your hands; use a tissue or the sleeve of your shirt or jacket, and

4.  Do not put your fingers in your nose, eyes or mouth. 

 
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) the 6 steps to proper hand washing are as follows:

1.  Wet hands under warm running water and apply liquid, bar, or powder soap.

2.  Rub hands together vigorously to make a lather and scrub all surfaces, don't forget to

       wash between your fingers, your wrists, under your finger nails and the back of your

       hands.

3.  Continue for at least 20 seconds, the length of time it takes to sing your favorite nursery

       rhyme or happy birthday.

4.  Rinse hands well under warm running water.

5.  Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer.

6.  If possible, use paper towel to turn off the facet instead of your hands.

 
To learn more, to download a series of fun and related activities including a hand washing curriculum please visit Henry the Hand at www.henrythehand.com Other websites of interest include Washup at www.washup.org and Centers for Disease Control Ounce of Prevention Campaign www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention

 

 

Longfellow's Greenhouse during hours of operations