A clean bill of health: Global Handwashing Day 2024

Every day, our hands come into contact with so many different surfaces – and therefore with bacteria and viruses, which we often pass on unintentionally. This is what Global Handwashing Day on 15 October is all about. Established by the World Health Organisation (WHO), this event is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of thorough handwashing for our health. This day of action is aimed at governments, institutions and businesses, healthcare providers such as hospitals and nursing homes as well as day care facilities and schools. While the right technique is crucial for effective handwashing, the choice of the wash basin tap is also very important for hygiene. Contactless and self-closing taps from SCHELL can make an important contribution here to improving hand hygiene as well as the health of their users.

A few minutes that have a lasting effect: handwashing saves lives

Handwashing is one of the simplest but also most effective methods of preventing infection and protecting our health. This year, Global Handwashing Day is organising activities to answer the question ‘Why are clean hands still important?’, with a focus on raising awareness. The answer, of course, is to stop the spread of pathogens in the healthcare sector and other environments. As such, handwashing is all part of ensuring we have a ‘clean bill of health’. Nor does it only protect our own health. Handwashing protects all the people we have regular contact with – in fact, it can even save lives.

Below, we present some interesting facts about the effects of regular and thorough handwashing.

• Preventing infection: Regular handwashing can stop the spread of pathogens (e.g. flu viruses, COVID) and bacteria (e.g. E. coli, Salmonella), and cut the risk of infection by up to 50%. In hospitals, good hand hygiene practice can reduce the spread of nosocomial infections (hospital-acquired infections) by up to 40%.
• Reduction in cases of diarrhoea: The risk of diarrhoea infections can be reduced by up to 30%.
• Protection against respiratory illness: Regular handwashing can reduce the frequency of respiratory infections by 16–21%.
• Relieving the burden on the healthcare system: Fewer cases of infection mean fewer visits to the doctor and less pressure on the healthcare system.
• Saving lives: In developing countries, correct handwashing can reduce mortality rates in children five and under as a result of diarrhoea by up to 40% and as a result of respiratory infection by up to 23%.

Electronic taps and self-closing taps: the best choice for hand hygiene

Apart from using the right technique, the choice of the right tap can also make a significant contribution to hand hygiene and therefore to protecting user health. SCHELL offers innovative solutions that are not only user-friendly but also improve hygiene. In the case of self-closing taps, the flow of water stops automatically after a pre-configured period of time. This not only saves water but also means that any microbes on the tap cannot be transferred to clean hands after they have been washed. With contactless electronic taps, the flow of water is activated by infrared sensors, which avoids all contact between the hands and the tap body. This significantly reduces the possibility of transmitting germs.

Both types of tap are especially beneficial for public and healthcare facilities, where many people will regularly be using the same taps. Thanks to the contactless or self-closing mechanism, the tap stays hygienically clean and helps to prevent the spread of pathogenic organisms. As an additional benefit, the installation of self-closing taps cuts water consumption in comparison with single-lever mixers by up to 55%. These savings rise to as much as 70% in the case of electronic taps. So, contactless electronic SCHELL fittings are not only especially hygienic but also economical and sustainable. Thanks to their optional automated stagnation flushes, the taps can also help to maintain drinking water hygiene – an important feature for installations in the healthcare sector.

Find out more: SCHELL taps for any wash basin

SCHELL offers a wide range of wash basin taps for every imaginable scenario. The top-of-the-range tap among our contactless models is the XERIS E-T, which has already won many awards, thanks to its outstanding features. For renovation projects with smaller budgets – but where contactless electronic taps are still part of project specifications – the entry-level model MODUS E is an excellent choice. Let yourself be inspired by our wide choice of models or contact our SCHELL Service Team, who will work with you to find the perfect solution for your requirements.

With low-contact and contactless taps from SCHELL, handwashing not only becomes easier but also more hygienic. Join hands with SCHELL and take a stand on health – every day and at every wash basin!