WiRED Marks Global Handwashing Day on October 15

BY ALLISON KOZICHAROW; EDITED BY BERNICE BORN

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hat is the first line of defense against almost all infectious diseases? Yes, that’s right — handwashing. Handwashing is key to the prevention of everything from the common cold to Ebola.

 

Handwashing is one of the best ways to remove germs (bacteria, parasites and viruses) to avoid getting sick and to prevent the spread of germs to other people.

 

WiRED International offers a module on handwashing which is particularly useful to parents and teachers when discussing the topic with their children. In fact, many of the health education modules in WiRED’s Learning Center stress the importance of handwashing.

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) promotes handwashing as a do-it-yourself vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) promotes handwashing as a do-it-yourself vaccine. What a painless way to stay healthy!

 

 

Handwashing in Communities

 

Handwashing with soap is not only simple and inexpensive, but also can dramatically reduce the number of young children who get sick. Teaching children and adults alike about handwashing helps them and their communities stay healthy. Handwashing education in the community can:

  • Reduce the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by about 23-40%
  • Reduce diarrheal illness in people with HIV by about 58%
  • Reduce respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by about 16-21%

Source: CDC

 

 


You can download the modules in this story, and all 400+ of WiRED’s health modules, through WiRED’s Health Module Access Program (HealthMAP) by clicking here. This easy-to-use free program will enable you to create your own customized collection of health learning modules. You can learn more about HealthMAP through WiRED's animation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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