A survey coinciding with Global Hand Washing Day on Saturday, Oct. 15 found 43 percent of children said that if they don't wash their hands at school, it's because they don't have time.
The survey, conducted by Russell Research for the American Cleaning Institute, found good news overall--89 percent of students ages 8-17 reported washing their hands after using the school bathroom. But lack of teacher support and "digusting" bathrooms sometimes hinder their best efforts. Fifty-one percent of kids reported their teachers didn't set aside enough time for hand-washing before lunch. Forty-seven percent said they occasionally don't use the bathroom because it isn't clean.
"Good hygiene is one of the many life skills that schools can reinforce. Good hygiene helps keep students healthy and in school," Nancy Bock, ACI Vice President of Consumer Education, said in a news release. "Parents and teachers need to prompt kids daily, because cleaning matters to our health. Lessons learned in school last a lifetime."
In addition, fewer students reported washing their hands before eating lunch (65 percent) and just 53 percent after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezing. Fortunately, 77 percent said watching their friends wash their hands at school prompts them to do the same.
