On May 5th, we observe World Hand Hygiene Day, a global campaign organized by the World Health Organization. Hand washing remains one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of dangerous germs and illness!
Washing your hands is especially important after interacting with animals because they can transmit all sorts of germs to you, even animals that appear healthy. After petting or playing with your pet, feeding them, or cleaning up after them, you should always remember to wash your hands!
Running water and soap is best, but if you don't have access to that, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol will do in the meantime. Follow these steps from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for thorough hand washing:
- Wet your hands with running water and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together. Make sure to get in between your fingers and around your nails!
- Scrub for at least 20 seconds. If you need a timer, you can hum the "Happy Birthday" song twice!
- Rinse your hands well.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or dryer.
Reminder for those in the medical field: Your hands can become contaminated even when you wear medical grade rubber gloves. Be sure to wash your hands after taking off gloves!
Hand washing can be especially important for kids. How do you encourage them at home or at your programs to be mindful of germs and wash their hands?
Together we can stop the spread of germs by washing our hands!
References:
About Handwashing | Clean Hands | CDC
World Hand Hygiene Day 2025
Hygiene Practices Around Animals | Water, Sanitation, and Environmentally Related Hygiene (WASH) | CDC
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Kaitlyn Davis
Research Associate
UTK Program for Pet Health Equity
TN
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