Facts About Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers

Image a World that is touchable. That is what one hand sanitizer manufacturer wants you to do when you use their product. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we didn’t have to worry about the spread of germs or viruses? Most of the leading alcohol based hand sanitizer manufacturers claim to kill 99.99% of common germs that cause illness. They also contain 62-65% alcohol, which is what kills the germs.

I doubt few of us have missed the emails circulating about small children who are ingesting alcohol based hand sanitizers and then being rushed to the hospital with alcohol poisoning. How could this happen, right? According to Heidi Kuhl, a Health Educator at Central New York Poison Control, one or two ounces of alcohol based liquid hand sanitizer can be fatal to a toddler. Other Medical Technicians say that a small child would have to ingest considerably more sanitizer than is typically used in a single application in order for alcohol toxicity to be a likely result. A small child ingesting 2 oz. of alcohol based hand sanitizer is equal to them taking a 2 oz. shot of 120 proof whiskey. This is where the dangers of this product lie. The hand sanitizer smells good, and most manufacturers are making it in fragrances that smell like something children would eat. There are warning labels on the product such as ” Keep out of reach of Children”, and “If swallowed get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away. Unfortunately, unlike dangerous cleaning products, hand sanitizers are not thought of as something that could poison a child and are kept on kitchen and bathroom counter and nightstands in most homes. There is some long term effects on small children who continually ingest alcohol based hand sanitizers, like liver and brain damage.

Now, before you go throwing all of your hand sanitizer out, let me tell you what the Mayo Clinic has to say about it’s use. The Mayo Clinic says alcohol based hand sanitizer is an excellent alternative to washing your hands, particularly when soap and warm water are not available. And that hand sanitizers are more effective than soap and water in killing bacteria and viruses. The proper use and storage of hand sanitizers can keep your family healthy especially when used in combination with good old fashion soap and water.

Not all hand sanitizers are created equal, though. Some “waterless” hand sanitizers don’t contain alcohol, which is what kills the germs. Use only the alcohol-based products. To use an alcohol based hand sanitizer properly, apply about 1/2 tsp of the product to the palm of your hand and rub your hands together, covering all surfaces of your hands, until they’re dry. Making sure that the product is completely dry will help safeguard against your child ingesting it. If hands are visibly dirty, however, wash with soap and water rather than a sanitizer.