Clean Hands Save Lives

From doorknobs to money to food, harmful germs can live almost anywhere and spread easily through casual contact. Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

To raise awareness about the critical need for hand washing and help address widespread H1N1 (flu) activity in the region, hospitals and local health departments from Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties joined forces in August 2009 to encourage frequent and thorough hand washing as a critical defense against the new virus and other illness. Our tri-county Clean Hands Campaign kicked off on National Clean Hands Week (September 20-26) with one simple, but essential goal: To help stop the spread of illness and keep southwest Florida families safe through frequent hand washing.

We encourage individuals, businesses, schools and civic organizations to browse our website and join our campaign. And be sure to share what you’ve learned with several friends!

Partner Spotlight

The Clean Hands Campaign would like to thank Bitner-Poff & Co. for providing campaign materials at discounted prices and donating a portion of all sales back to the campaign. To order sanitizers and other supplies with the Clean Hands Campaign logo, visit www.bitnerpoff.com.

> Please visit our Partners - businesses and organizations that have joined our campaign!

Clean hands campaign videos

• Soap vs. Sanitizer
  Local elementary students put handwashing methods to the test with support from Sarasota Memorial Hospital's laboratory.
  [Produced by Sarasota Memorial Hospital]
• Launch of the Clean Hands Campaign
  Footage from our kickoff at the Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market.
  [Sarasota County Health Department, 9-19-09]

We're in the News

• "Sanitizer or soap? Just ask a 3rd grader"
  [Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 10-23-09]
• "Keep those hands clean!"
  [Pelican Press, 10-21-09]
• "With lab tests, students seek key to cleanliness"
  [Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 10-16-09]
• "Students take the hand washing challenge"
  [Sarasota Observer, 10-15-09]
• "Students get demonstration on importance of hand washing"
  [ABC 7, 10-15-09]
• "Global Handwashing Day"
  [SNN 6, 10-15-09]
• VIDEO: "Hand Washing Campaign"
  [NBC 8 Tampa / TBO.COM, 9-21-09]
• "Fighting a virus with cleanliness"
  [Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 9-20-09]
• Article + VIDEO: "Sarasota kicks off hand washing campaign" 
  [ABC 7, 9-17-09]
• Proclamation with area hospital & health department CEOs
  [Sarasota County Government/Access 19]

Flu & Vaccine Update

The H1N1 flu vaccine is now available to in our community.  Sarasota County Health Department maintains a list of public clinics on their website.  (READ MORE...)

Helpful Resources

• For up-to-date information about H1N1 Swine Flu visit http://www.myflusafety.com or call (877) 352-3581
  (Florida Department of Health)
• Florida Flu Activity Surveillance Map, by county, updated weekly
• "With Soap & Water or Sanitizer, a Cleaning That Can Stave Off the Flu"  (New York Times article)
• "Swine Flu Upsets Rituals of Greeting" (New York Times article)
• Additional H1N1 Guidance for Businesses 
• Flu Prevention Tips (Sarasota County Health Department)
• CDC-endorsed videos to help fight the H1N1 virus