Cleaning Up a World Record
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Latin America set a New Guinness World Record for the most people washing their hands at the same time.
Children in Mexico participating in the hand washing world record. According to the Pan American Health Organization, 740,870 people cleaned their hands simultaneously in different corners of Latin America in October. (PAHO)
Children in Mexico participating in the hand washing world record. (PAHO)
The public health organization said three countries in particular – Peru, Argentina and Mexico – mobilized thousands of students to take part in the event. (PAHO)
The hand washing world record highlighted the importance of hand washing in schools and coincided with Global Handwashing Day. (PAHO)
The last record holder for handwashing was Bangladesh, which brought together 52,970 people in 2009 to wash their hands at the same time. (PAHO)
Earlier this month, Guinness judges travelled to each of the countries to review documents – witnesses had to fill out registration forms, log times and count people. (PAHO)