October 15 is Global Handwashing Day. Established in 2008, Global Handwashing Day is a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of the importance of handwashing as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.
The Global Handwashing Partnership works with partners around the world to save children’s lives and improve health by promoting handwashing with soap. The coalition is working towards making handwashing accessible at critical times.
Shining a Spotlight on the Global Handwashing Partnership
It is important to teach kids the importance of washing hands with soap as a way to prevent diseases and stay healthy. Ensuring that kids around the world not only know this information but also have access to soap and clean water is an essential issue we must all work to achieve.
The Global Handwashing Partnership’s 2021 theme, “Our Future is at Hand – Let’s Move Forward Together,” calls for coordinated action as we actively work toward universal hand hygiene. You can learn more about their work and how you can get involved here.
The Importance of Handwashing
According to the WHO, handwashing with soap for 20 seconds is one of the most important steps we can take to stay well and avoid spreading illness to others. The WHO states that handwashing education and access to soap in schools can increase attendance in school children and reduce the number of people in the general population who get sick.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a renewed focus on healthy hygiene habits to stay well and, for good reason, increased attention on the topic of handwashing.
The Time Timer WASH
Here at Time Timer, we recognize how important it is to educate kids about handwashing. This month we are celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Time Timer WASH, a touchless handwashing timer. We created the Time Timer WASH to make it easier for children, especially younger children, to wash their hands for the proper amount of time.
The water-resistant, touchless Time Timer WASH times for a total of 30 seconds and breaks down the handwashing process into three simple steps so it can be understood by all ages and abilities:
- Soap (5 seconds)
- Scrub (20 seconds)
- Rinse (5 seconds)
The handwashing timer also features optional alerts and music to play throughout to increase engagement and make handwashing fun, but it can also be used silently for sound-sensitive environments. It’s perfect for school, the kitchen, or the bathroom.
This Global Handwashing Day, we wish you a safe and healthy season ahead.