Hand Hygiene Habits Remain Stagnant; National Clean Hands Week is Sept. 21-27, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite the threat of getting sick during cold and flu season, fewer Americans say they are regularly washing their hands. The fourth Clean Hands Report Card®, issued by the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), gives Americans a “C-minus” for their hand hygiene habits, the same grade they received back in 2006.

The Report Card is based on a series of hygiene-related questions asked of 916 Americans during a telephone survey conducted in August 2008 by Echo Research.  

Among the findings of SDA’s 2008 survey:

· Only 85 percent say they always wash their hands after going to the bathroom (down from 92 percent in 2006).

· 46 percent of respondents wash their hands 15 seconds or less.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and SDA recommends washing with soap at least 15 to 20 seconds.

· 39 percent surveyed seldom or never wash their hands after coughing or sneezing (compared to 36 percent in 2006).  

· 35 percent don’t always wash before eating lunch (in 2006, 31 percent failed to wash up before lunch.