Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #113017

Julia Smith-Easley, MPH, National Center for Infectious Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS A49, Atlanta, GA 30333, David M. DeLozier, MPH, Division of Adolescent and School Health, U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mail Stop K-31, Atlanta, GA 30341, and Michéle Samarya-Timm, MA, REHS, CHES, DAAS, Health Educator, Franklin Township Health Department, 935 Hamilton Street, Somerset, NJ 08873, 732-873-2500, x372, michele.samarya-timm@twp.franklin.nj.us.

Recognizing that handwashing is the most important thing people can do to keep from getting sick and spreading illness, numerous organizations are involved with hand hygiene programs and activities for a wide variety of audiences. However, the opportunity to network and share information is needed to help coordinate existing programs, to generate new collaborations, and to motivate appropriate handwashing behaviors. To address this need, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) facilitated the Clean Hands Coalition, a unified alliance of public and private partners – both national and grass roots -- to work together to create and support coordinated, sustained initiatives to significantly improve health and save lives through clean hands. This national multi-disciplined team of advocates are continuously developing realistic long-term solutions and a path to increase the awareness of handwashing and hand hygiene . Its ranks consist of senior professionals from the regulatory, commercial and academic communities who collectively encourage courses of instruction, educational programs, community outreach, informational campaigns and training for the purpose of increasing the knowledge and understanding of its members and the many general public audiences. Using a science based approach and the model of the Healthy People 2010, the CHC focuses on hand hygiene as the primary intervention to increase the general quality and years of a healthy life. This presentation will review the Clean Hands Coalition's mission, focus, and continuing success in promoting National “Clean Hands Week”, annually celebrated the third week of September.

Learning Objectives: After attending this session, audience members will be able to

• Understand that effective handwashing is the single most important means for preventing the spread of infection
• Evaluate audience-specific clean hands messages and activities that promote appropriate hand hygiene behaviors
• Recognize the importance of a unified alliance of public and private handwashing education partners

Keywords: Health Education, Collaboration

Related Web page: www.cleanhandscoalition.org/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.