Clean hands may save lives, but toilets do too

The U.N. reports that a lack of basic sanitation in some countries, or flush toilets, causes as many as 2 million childhood deaths each year. That breaks down to almost 5,000 preventable deaths per day, all for want of clean water.

"No access to sanitation is a polite way of saying that people draw water for drinking, cooking and washing from rivers, lakes, ditches and drains fouled with human and animal excrement," said Kevin Watkins, the main author of the U.N. Development Program's annual report. The report also cites studies in Peru and Egypt that show as much as a 60% increase in a child's chance of living to their 1st birthday just by installing a flush toilet in their home.

This story really makes me realize the little things that we all take for granted everyday, like indoor plumbing. Next time I'm scrubbing my toilet I'll try to more appreciative that I have one to clean!