Did you know that May 5 is World Hand Hygiene Day? Created by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2009, World Hand Hygiene Day engages hospitals and other organizations across the globe to understand and practice hand hygiene. Today, these organizations will participate in hand sanitizing relays, a global hand sanitation compliance project, and the #safeHANDS social media campaign to raise awareness of hand hygiene’s enormous importance in protecting human health. The 2015 theme of World Hand Hygiene Day is “Strengthening healthcare systems and delivery—hand hygiene is your entrance door.”
Although Hand Hygiene Day is geared mostly toward healthcare workers and preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), inspectors, managers, and workers in the food industry also play a role in keeping people safe through good hand hygiene. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: handwashing is the number one weapon against the spread of foodborne illness. Do your part to protect people’s health by following all of the proper handwashing steps any time your hands may have become contaminated. Remember to wear single-use, disposable gloves and use appropriate utensils when handling food to avoid any bare hand contact. And if you’re enjoying a shared plate of nachos this Cinco de Mayo, remind yourself and those around you to keep hand hygiene in mind to prevent contaminating the nachos with a side of foodborne pathogens.
Check out these StateFoodSafety.com resources related to hand hygiene:
Steps of Handwashing Poster
Handwashing Stickers
Food Safety Talkabout—Episode 01 Handwashing
—Katie Heil
