Guess what?  Today is Global Handwashing Day. 

Guess what else? Most of you are doing it wrong. Gross.  

Here at A Ripple, we have a passion for WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) and try our best to help with safe water, adequate sanitation, and proper hygiene. 

Did you know that 95% of people only wash their hands for 6 seconds as opposed to the recommended 20? Or that 1/3 of people don’t use soap when washing hands? Remember, soap and water go hand in hand. 

Today, we feel it’s important to take a moment to remember that 80% of communicable diseases are shared by touch and that proper handwashing can reduce diarrhea rates by 40%. 

When teaching handwashing, we use whatever people are familiar with, for example, songs, dances, tradition and religion.  There’s many verses in the Bible about hand washing and the Quran instructs washing up to your elbows.

We instruct our students that while washing they should sing Happy Birthday twice, which is 20 seconds and a fun way to remember this mundane activity. 

If you would like to know other helpful tips, please watch the attached video that we made with our friends. 

Your life and your neighbor’s lives are in your hands. Don’t be a dope, wash your hands with water and soap!