Information On Hand Sanitizers
Keeping your hands clean stops the transmission of numerous dangerous diseases. You may wash your hands with water and soap or you can sanitize them using hand sanitizers.
What’s hand sanitizer? A hand sanitizer is a gel, foam, and liquid solution which acts as an alternative to hand washing with soap and water. You will find two types of hand sanitizers, alcohol based hand sanitizers and non-alcohol hand sanitizers.
Alcohol based hand sanitizers use alcohol to kill most bacteria, fungi and several viruses. The level of alcohol in these sanitizers varies between 60% and 85%. Most hand sanitizers found in the market contain 62% of alcohol. The most common brands of alcohol based hand sanitizers include Purell sanitizers, Avant, Sterillium, Desderman and Allsept S.
Some hand sanitizers are manufactured with extra ingredients such as natural products and essential oils. These hand sanitizers not only contain alcohol that is necessary to kill germs effectively and safely, but they also contain additional components that could moisturize and condition the skin. Hospitals use sanitizer dispensers equipped with elbow controlled mechanism to avoid any contact with the pump.
Non-alcohol based hand sanitizers use chemical agents including benzalkonium chloride or triclosan to kill germs. The concentration of benzalkonium chloride or triclosan in these products is low.
Alcohol is really a preservative. Because they do not contain alcohol, the non-alcohol based hand sanitizers. can become contaminated.
User Guide to Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizers could kill most gems immediately while on the skin. What is the correct way to use it and when should we use it?
The proper way of using hand sanitizer is as shown below:
- Apply enough solution to the palm of one hand.
- Rub the solution over all surfaces of your hands and fingers for few seconds until your hands are dry.
- Wash your hands with soap and water if they hands are visibly dirty.
- When to apply the solution? You should sanitizer your hands:
- before and after preparing food.
- before meals.
- before and after touching patients.
- before inserting or removing contact lenses.
- after changing a diaper.
- after handling something that could be contaminated, such as garbage.
Benefits of Hand Sanitizers
Despite common perceptions, alcohol-based hand sanitizers dries skin less than hand washing with soap and water.
Hand sanitizers kill viruses such as flu virus, the common cold virus, and HIV and numerous bacteria including antibiotic resistant bacteria and TB bacteria. Hand sanitizers also kill fungi too.
The Risks
Alcohol based hand sanitizers can catch fire because of its alcohol content. However, some hand sanitizers with high concentration of water or moisturizing content may not produce this effect. Rubbing your hands until dry could minimize the risk of fire. This is because it only takes few second for the flammable alcohol in hand sanitizers to evaporate into the air. Your hands are dry means that the alcohol is gone.
