Facts on hand hygiene

• According to CDC, the single most important thing we can do to keep from getting sick and spreading illness to others is to clean our hands.
• Nearly 22 million school days are lost due to the common cold alone. Some viruses and bacteria can live from 20 minutes up to 2 hours or more on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. (CDC)
• 52.2 million cases of the common cold affect Americans under the age of 17 each year. (CDC, 1996)
• Students don't wash their hands often or well. In one study, only 58% of female and 48% of male middle and high school students washed their hands after using the bathroom. (American Journal of Infection Control, 1997)
• A study of Detroit school children showed that scheduled hand washing, at least four times a day, can reduce gastrointestinal illness and related absences by more than 50%. (Family Medicine, 1997)