Announcements

Every year, October 15 is Global Handwashing Day, an occasion to support a global and local culture of handwashing with soap, shine a spotlight on the state of handwashing in each country, and raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap.

Handwashing is simple, inexpensive, and can dramatically cut the number of young children who get sick. Handwashing with soap could prevent about 1 out of every 3 episodes of diarrheal illnesses and almost 1 out of 6 episodes of respiratory infection like pneumonia.

Kids and adults around the world are raising awareness of the importance of clean hands in observance of Global Handwashing Day. You can join them in these ways:

• Organize or participate in a handwashing event in your school or community; handwashing is important all year long!
  • Plan your event using the Global Handwashing Day Planner’s Guide.
  • See what your school can do, and gather materials.
  • Download Global Handwashing Day materials and planning tools.
• Celebrate virtually on Twitter and Facebook. Look for and use the hashtag #GlobalHandwashingDay, download pre-drafted educational social media messages, and share CDC’s Global Handwashing Day digital button.
• Make sure you and your family know when and how to wash your hands properly.

Healthy Schools, Healthy People: It's a SNAP!

You can also help promote handwashing by creating a handwashing campaign for your school community. CDC works with the American Cleaning Institute on the Healthy Schools, Healthy People, It's a SNAP! program. This program aims to improve hand hygiene habits in schools to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases and reduce related absenteeism. Each year, schools are chosen for national recognition for outstanding student efforts to promote hand hygiene and infection control. Visit www.itsasnap.org to apply today!

Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Learn more about how handwashing can keep you and others healthy, today and every day.

Today is Global Handwashing Day, an occasion to support a global and local culture of handwashing with soap, shine a spotlight on the state of handwashing in each country, and raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap.

Kids and adults around the world are celebrating. You can join them in these ways:

• Organize or participate in a Global Handwashing Day event in your school or community
  • Plan your event using the Global Handwashing Day Planner's Guide
  • See what your school can do, and gather materials
  • Download Global Handwashing Day materials and planning tools
• Celebrate virtually on Twitter and Facebook (look for and use the hashtag #iwashmyhands)
• Play the World Wash Up game
• Make sure you and your family know when and how to wash your hands properly

Learn more about how handwashing can keep you and others healthy, today and every day.

Healthy Schools, Healthy People: It's a SNAP!

CDC works with the American Cleaning Institute on the Healthy Schools, Healthy People, It's a SNAP! program to improve hand hygiene habits to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases and reduce related absenteeism. Visit www.itsasnap.org to learn how you can help prevent school absenteeism by creating a handwashing campaign for your school community.

Each year, schools are chosen for national recognition for outstanding student efforts to promote hand hygiene and infection control. Apply today!

Awards guidelines:

• Deadline to apply for national recognition is January 31
• Awards are open to all public/private K-12 schools in states, territories, and tribes within the U.S.
• Your school project, activity, or campaign must include the key handwashing messages
• Click here for the complete Awards Application Guidelines [PDF - 1 page]

Learn more about Healthy Schools, Healthy People, It's a SNAP!