#USA #Global Health #Menomonee Falls #Handwashing Day #Hygiene Practices

Global Handwashing Day 2025: The Importance of Hand Hygiene

Every year on October 15, Global Handwashing Day highlights one of the simplest yet most effective public health practices: washing hands with soap and water. This global event serves as a powerful reminder that maintaining proper hand hygiene is crucial for preventing the spread of infectious diseases and safeguarding community health.

Regular handwashing, especially after using the restroom, before food preparation, or after caring for the sick, can significantly reduce the transmission of infectious diseases. As stated by the Global Handwashing Partnership, routine handwashing can lower the rate of diarrheal diseases by nearly half and cut acute respiratory infections by almost 25%. These advantages are particularly vital for protecting children under five years old, who are especially vulnerable to illnesses due to inadequate hygiene practices.

Why Handwashing is Essential

The medical community underscores that soap and water are still the best defense against organisms that lead to illnesses like influenza and other widespread viruses. Handwashing becomes even more critical with highly contagious viruses such as norovirus; unlike alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which are ineffective against this virus, thorough washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is necessary to remove viral particles effectively.

Dr. Michael P. McCann, a medical microbiologist and professor emeritus at Saint Joseph's University, asserts, "Handwashing, using soap and warm water, is an easy and effective way to reduce the spread of disease-causing organisms like norovirus." He highlights the simplicity yet effectiveness of handwashing following activities like using the restroom, noting how easily germs can be transmitted via surfaces and food.

Insights from Bradley's Healthy Handwashing Survey

For 16 years, Bradley’s Healthy Handwashing Survey™ has analyzed Americans' behavior and attitudes towards hand hygiene. The findings from the 2025 survey reflect both progress and challenges faced by the public regarding their handwashing habits:

• - An overwhelming 93% of Americans recognize the importance of handwashing for their health.
• - Despite the awareness, there are lapses—although 81% consistently wash their hands after using public restrooms, not everyone follows this practice.
• - Soap usage is not adequately universal; about 45% of respondents admit to sometimes rinsing without soap, with men more likely than women to skip this step.
• - A gender disparity is evident: 85% of women report always washing their hands in public restrooms compared to 77% of men. Women are also more likely to employ precautions to avoid germs, such as using paper towels to touch surfaces.
• - The state of restroom facilities is important; 84% of respondents claim that dirty restrooms negatively impact their perception of a business, indicating the necessity of clean and stocked facilities to support proper hand hygiene.

A Reminder and Call to Action

The theme for this year, “Clean Hands Are Within Reach,” emphasizes that handwashing is both a personal responsibility and a global health imperative. Jon Dommisse, vice president of business development and strategy at Bradley, notes, "Our survey shows that while people believe in the importance of handwashing, they also need access to clean, functional restrooms that facilitate the practice."

Global Handwashing Day serves as a reminder for individuals, families, schools, businesses, and public institutions to prioritize hand hygiene and ensure that soap and water are readily available.

For the past century, Bradley has been at the forefront of creating advanced commercial washrooms and comprehensive safety solutions, ensuring public spaces remain hygienic. By continually innovating in healthy handwashing technologies, Bradley leads the industry in providing sanitary, multifunctional, touchless handwashing and drying equipment, contributing to better hygiene in public environments.

For more information about hand hygiene and Bradley's commitment to public health, visit Bradley Corporation's website.