Improve Hand Hygiene This Global Handwashing Day

Global Handwashing Day provides an important reminder for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases

A pair of hands lathering with soap underneath a running faucet.

In recent months, we have all been experiencing the reopening of our communities after nearly 18 months of COVID-19-based isolations. For me, during the reopening, it’s been great to see the excitement my children have reconnecting with friends and teachers going back to school in-person.  Likewise, after so many virtual meetings, I’ve enjoyed attending in-person industry events and customer meetings once again.  The common sentiment I hear, and share, is how happy people are to get back to the experiences that bring them joy and fulfillment. The pandemic-induced lockdowns remind us all how interconnected our health and wellbeing is to the interpersonal interactions we cherish as part of our shared human experience.

All of these experiences have also served as an important reminder of why we take precautionary steps to help minimize the spread of germs – to protect ourselves and fellow citizens while keeping our communities open.

No matter if it’s for school, work or just getting back to the things we enjoy, remaining committed to the good hygiene practices we’ve built up over the past year will help prevent the spread of germs and help us all get back on track to the futures we want.  Additionally, I think it is important to recognize that hand hygiene goes beyond COVID-19 and global pandemics.  It’s something core to human health and wellbeing - helping prevent the spread of seasonal illnesses like influenza and foodborne illnesses like norovirus that are more common as we spend more time together.

Global Handwashing Day arrives as a timely reminder to the importance of building good handwashing culture in our businesses and personal lives. At Ecolab, we are excited to partner with our customers to do our part to raise awareness for good hand hygiene practices and help improve handwashing know how, so that we can all move forward together.

Hands being washed under a running faucet in what appears to be a restaurant or commercial kitchen.

Ecolab Hand Hygiene

Learn more about Ecolab hand hygiene solutions and how your Ecolab representative can help with placement guides, compliance tools, training resources and product recommendations for a robust hand-hygiene program.

About the Author

Chris Loflin headshot

Chris Loflin

Senior Vice President and General Manager, Global Hand Care

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With that in mind, here are a few things to keep in mind for improving your personal or business hand hygiene.

Individuals should focus on when and how to wash their hands:

  • When:
    • Wash your hands in between activities.
    • After using the bathroom, handling money or other high touch surfaces.
    • Before handling food.
    • Before touching your face.
  • How:
    • Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. Remember to wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry with a clean towel or drier.
    • When soap and water aren't available use hand sanitizer.

Businesses:

  • Place hand sanitizer stands, dispensers or tabletop bottles at the entrances of high traffic areas to help prevent the spread of germs and encourage hand hygiene.
  • Build hand soap and sanitizer dispenser checks into your operations to ensure they have product so staff and guests can clean their hands.
  • Ensure Food preparation areas have sufficient designated handwashing sinks.
  • Train your team. Make handwashing day an opportunity to re-train employees on best practices.
Infographic for World Hand Hygiene Day 2021

Infographic Download: Practice Hand Hygiene

Download this PDF for key moments when you should remember to wash or sanitize your hands.