October 15 - Global Handwashing Day

In this new age of awareness regarding disinfecting due to COVID-19, more than ever before there's a great need to wear masks, physical distance and especially wash hands.  When people don't wash their hands, the spread of disease, not just COVID-19, increases.  Cultures in the past didn't wash hands and the rate of sickness and death was much higher.  

A great example of the positive results of hand washing can be seen by the case of Ignaz Semmelweis.  He was a Hungarian physician and scientist who is now considered a pioneer of antiseptic procedures.  He noted that there was a high rate of puerperal fever occurring in mothers after giving birth, many of which died.  He discovered the cause was due to the fact that doctors were going straight from the morgue to helping mother give birth without washing their hands.  The spread of disease was rampant.  Unfortunately, many of his colleagues did not believe him and his simple step of washing hands in a solution of chlorinated lime solutions was scoffed at.  He eventually ended up dying in an insane asylum.  Only years later after the discoveries by Louis Pasteur and Joseph Lister were his hand washing techniques taken seriously.

The point is, hand washing is a very, very simple way to limit the spread of disease.  If everyone practices this regularly, outbreaks like COVID-19 might never occur.  So, pay special attention to October 15, Global Hand Washing Day.  Although it's an annual event, it highlights the important need of washing hands every day.  Be wise, stay healthy!

October 15 - Global Handwashing Day