To Help Prevent Coronavirus, Here Are The Songs You Can Properly Wash Your Hands To
Why boringly wash your hands to 'Happy Birthday' when you could belt out 'Truth Hurts' by Lizzo?!
As COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread across the world, people have become increasingly fearful about contracting the disease.
Currently countries like Australia and the US have gone into panic mode, and have begun stockpiling nonperishables to prepare for the worst. It’s worth noting that the death rate for the virus is still only at around 2 percent.
To help prevent the spread, government bodies — like the Centres For Disease Control and Prevention — have encouraged frequent hand washing as it works to kill any viruses that may be present on the skin.
In line with their hand washing advice, these government groups have suggested that you scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. As a way to informally time the 20 seconds, even the World Health Organisation recommends that you sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice while washing.
Washing your hands is the best way to protect yourself and others from the spread of germs, including coronavirus.
You should wash your hands for the amount of time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice. pic.twitter.com/Yf23UJAy8m
— NHS London (@NHSEnglandLDN) February 27, 2020
While ‘Happy Birthday’ is a good starting point, people online began brainstorming other 20-second long choruses we could belt out while washing our hands.
For a little more flavour, @JenMonnier created a thread of upbeat tunes worthy of half a minute of our time — including ‘Love on Top’ by Beyoncé, ‘Landslide’ by Fleetwood Mac, ‘Raspberry Beret’ by Prince, ‘Jolene’ by Dolly Parton, ‘Africa’ by Toto, and even ‘Truth Hurts’ by Lizzo.
Other hits that fit the 20-second hand washing recommendation include ‘Mambo No. 5’ by Lou Bega, Cher’s ‘Believe’, ‘Mr Brightside’ by the Killers, and even every five-year-old’s favourite — the classic recitation of the alphabet.
TIP: sing your ABCs when you wash your hands. That’s about the right amount of time for washing. Also, you can really nail the alphabet.
— Maureen Johnson (@maureenjohnson) February 28, 2020
If you don’t want to sing Happy Birthday (twice, slowly = the recommended 20 seconds) or God Save The Queen, might I recommend the chorus of any of the following:
• Mambo No 5
• Maniac 2000
• Bat Out of Hell
• Cher’s Believe https://t.co/UzW45SQtIm— Nicky Ryan (@NickyRyan_) March 1, 2020
Mr. Brightside by The Killers (22 seconds) also works well.
— Tim: An Author-like Creature (@thattinywebsite) March 2, 2020
The chatter about songs appropriate for the time recommendation also sparked conversation about the always health-friendly ‘Stayin’ Alive’ by the Bee Gees.
Not only is the chorus just over 20 seconds long, but the beat follows the correct tempo used in CPR practices. This is also the case for Queen’s ‘Another One Bites The Dust’.
“Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees has a chorus that is 24 seconds long, and ALSO doubles as the cadence for doing CPR massage. One song, two vital health uses!
— Tom Forsyth (@tom_forsyth) March 2, 2020
For the more emo of us, the dramatic intro to ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ by My Chemical Romance is also a nice way to help reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus too. And for the more daring, singing ‘Happy Birthday Mr President’ puts a nice, sexy twist on disease prevention.
Millennial Handwashing Tip:
If you want to make sure you wash your hands for 20 seconds, start singing Welcome to the Black Parade from "When I was" to "the beaten and the damned."
— Tracy (@TheOtherTracy) February 29, 2020
To wash your hands for the proper length of time, they recommend singing a song to yourself. I prefer to sing the sexy "Happy birthday, Mr. President" just to make public restrooms more awkward.
— Leah Shaffer (@LeahabShaffer) March 1, 2020