Global Handwashing Day is observed every year on Oct. 15 with an aim to increase awareness about the importance of washing hands with soap to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

Washing hands regularly has become even more important in the current scenario to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which has claimed the lives of millions around the world.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, germs that can make people sick spread when hands are not washed with soap. Therefore, it is important to wash hands right after using the bathroom, preparing food, before eating, after sneezing or coughing.

The theme for this year’s observance is "Our Future is at Hand – Let’s Move Forward Together," which "calls for coordinated action as we actively work toward universal hand hygiene."

On this occasion, here are a few inspirational quotes to encourage people to wash their hands using warm water and soap. (Courtesy - Food Truck Empire)

  1. "Virus infection cannot be avoided by simply rubbing hands underwater. Washing your hands with soap for 20 to 40 seconds is the right way." – Ignaz Semmelweis
  2. "Lack of handwashing can also be a cause of fever." – Ignaz Semmelweis
  3. "I wash the clothes, rinse them and then scrub them again. Will that square little box do that? I am not using any fancy machines when my hands will do." – Renita D’Silva
  4. "I wash my hands, wonder how an awful day could turn even worse. It seems like at some point you’d just run out of awful." – Kathryn Stockett
  5. "Practice good personal hygiene. Wash your hands before you eat. Be aware of good clean water and food sources." – James Wright
  6. "We need to create a culture where hand-washing is the thing to do, … If we can just wash our hands, we will have an impact on some of the most common problems, as well as some of the most serious health problems we face." – Julie Gerberding
  7. "Proper hand-washing with the soap, water, and paper towels, we believe, is the key." – Steve Troxler
  8. "The hand-washing stations have always been popular." – Patsy Brooks
  9. "One hand washes the other … both hands wash the face." – Sam Giancana
  10. "My two secrets to staying healthy: wash your hands all the time. And, if you can’t, use Purell or one of the sanitizers. And the other is hot peppers. I eat a lot of hot peppers. I for some reason started doing that in 1992, and I swear by it." – Hillary Clinton
Handwashing
Proper handwashing prevents the spread of harmful germs, bacteria and viruses. Burst / Pexels
RELATED STORIES