Global Handwashing Day is celebrated every year on October 15. It is basically to remind children and adults that for the sake of health they should wash their hands regularly throughout the day. Bacteria and other germs are tiny microscopic living creatures that cause illness and just because you cannot see them does not mean that they are not there. Germs cause illnesses and they can spread from one person to another, sometimes by breathing, sneezing, or touching the hands or the body fluids of someone with the illness. Did you notice that when one kid in your class has the cold, very soon almost everyone else in class catches the cold too? The common cold is one of the illnesses that spread easily among children. Other diseases that often target children but can be prevented if kids got into the habit of washing their hands regularly are: cough, sore throat, infection of the respiratory system, the flu, skin infections, eye infections, diarrhea, and vomiting. The simple act of washing hands properly could save lives. The World Health Organization reported that 3.5 million children under the age of 5 die from diarrhea and respiratory infections every year. Many of these deaths could have been avoided if people all over the world followed basic cleanliness practices, such as good hand washing. In the house or in school, you can prevent about 75 percent off all infectious diseases like the ones that we just mentioned above if everyone washed their hands regularly and correctly. Hurriedly sticking your hands under running tap water for five seconds before rushing off to play does not count as good hand washing and it will not protect you from catching illnesses. There are six steps to getting clean hands: 1. Take off any jewelry from your fingers and wrists before washing hands and use warm but not necessarily hot water. 2. Put enough liquid or bar soap to cover your fingers and the front and back of your hands. 3. Scrub your hands and wrists. Rub your hands together and then rub between your fingers and under your fingernails. 4. Spend a total of 15 to 30 seconds washing your hands; that is just about the time it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song twice. Once you have cleaned your hands this way, rinse them well with warm water. 5. Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel or an air dryer. It is very important to completely dry your hands. 6. Use a paper towel to turn off the water faucet to prevent new germs from getting on your clean hands. Congratulations; your hands are now properly washed. The famous Saudi comedy actor, Yousef Al-Jarrah, is encouraging kids in the Kingdom to stick to the healthy habit of regular hand washing. “Knowing when to wash your hands is just as important as learning how to correctly wash hands. Be extra careful to wash your hands before and after eating or touching food, after playing, after using the toilet, after coming home from school, and after sneezing. Never touch your eyes if they are not 100% clean,” said Yousef Al-Jarrah. If your school did not start a hand washing campaign, you can be the leader and introduce the importance of washing hands to protect children's health and teach your friends the six steps to get truly clean hands. Make it your responsibility to educate your family at home and help your younger siblings to wash their hands the right way. “Our school is very keen on enforcing personal hygiene practices. Each student must bring her own hygiene kit that we keep in our locker, and it includes: a clean towel, toothbrush, and toothpaste. It has become our normal routine to wash hands after every recess and brush our teeth as well,” said Amjad Saim Aldahr who goes to Bayan Model School for girls in Jeddah.
