Bryan Habana promotes health education

Following recent swine flu scares worldwide, experts have called for people to take simple measures to prevent the spread of disease. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, "Handwashing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infections."

Handwashing with soap dramatically reduces the chances of infection, especially in younger children. Good handwashing habits, ideally formed from a young age, can save millions of lives and could also reduce our dangerously high infant mortality rates.

On 15 October, Global Handwashing Day, Protex in association with children from Edenglen Primary and Eastleigh Primary Schools will be participating in the great handwashing event. They will first get their hands dirty by creating a giant mural of multi-coloured handprints to create a South African flag with Bryan Habana's help.

Thereafter, Habana and the children will ready themselves at their washing stations to break the record of the most people washing their hands at a single location, following strict Guinness World Records guidelines. The record attempt will be adjudicated by Carl Saville from Guinness World Records in London, who will fly into South Africa the day before.

Currently held by 1,213 participants at Banani Biddwa Niketon School of Dhaka in Bangladesh, and set on 22 October 2008, the Guiness World Record will not be an easy one to break. Protex hopes to involve at least 1,800 participants on the day as part of their national handwashing campaign, which began in June 2009.

Our hands are the busiest and most utilised of all body parts, catching and spreading bacteria and other viruses. When we touch visible dirt, we instinctively wash our hands, but the most infectious of germs are not always visible to the naked eye. Good handwashing with germ-free (anti-bacterial) soap can contain the spread of diseases like swine flu, cholera, tuberculosis and diarrheal disease.

Bryan Habana, the official brand ambassador for the Protex "Gimme five for germ-free hands" campaign says, "Educating our children now about the advantages of proper hygiene will save thousands of lives in the future. I am proud to be part of this important campaign which will uplift communities across South Africa by keeping them healthy and aware of healthy habits."

Five tips for handwashing

1. Before preparing or eating food
   
2. After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
   
3. After physical activity inside or outside
   
4. Before and after coming into contact with someone who is ill or wounded
   
5. After coming into contact with urine, faeces, bodily discharge, pets or garbage
   

Five steps to germ-free hands:

1. Wet hands and soap up with the power of Protex soap to break down any grease and dirt that carry most germs
   
2. Rub and scrub hands front and back and
   
3. Wash wrists, under nails and between fingers for at least 20 seconds
   
4. Rinse well with clean water
   
5. Dry with a clean cloth
   

Carl Saville, is an official Guinness World Records Adjudicator based in London, UK. His job is to travel around the world to witness record breaking events worldwide.