Washing your hand frequently with soap and water can prevent the spread of many dangerous diseases. If water and soap are not available, you can use hand hand sanitizers.
What is hand sanitizer? A hand sanitizer is a gel, foam, and liquid solution that kills viruses and bacteria. It is most frequently used for cleaning hands when soap and water are not available. 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 many viruses. You could find different amount of concentration of alcohol in different sanitizers. Some have as much as 85% of alcohol whereas others have 60%. Most hand sanitizers found in the market contain 62% of alcohol. The most common brands of alcohol hand rubs include Purell sanitizers, Avant, Sterillium, Desderman and Allsept S.
Some hand sanitizers come with extra ingredients such as natural products and essential oils. These hand sanitizers don’t just contain alcohol that is necessary to kill germs effectively and safely, however they also contain additional ingredients that could moisturize and condition your skin. Hospitals use sanitizer dispensers equipped with elbow controlled mechanism to prevent any contact while using the pump.
Non-alcohol based hand sanitizers use small quantity of benzalkonium chloride or triclosan to kill gems.
Alcohol is known as a preservative. As they do not contain alcohol, the non-alcohol based hand sanitizers. can become contaminated.
Correct Way of Using Hand Sanitizer
Everybody knows that hand sanitizers could kill most bacteria and viruses. 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 sanitizer gel to wet your hands
- Rub your hands together. Cover both hands and fingers with the solution. Keep rubbing until your hands are dry.
- Wash your hands with soap and water if they hands are visibly dirty.
- When to apply the sanitizer gel? You should sanitizer your hands:
- before and after preparing food.
- before eating.
- before and after treating patients.
- after using the toilet.
- 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 like flu virus, the common cold virus, and HIV and many bacteria including antibiotic resistant bacteria and TB bacteria. They also kill fungi.
Common Risks
Alcohol is flammable. Alcohol based hand sanitizers can catch fire of it. However, some hand sanitizers with high concentration of water or moisturizing agents may not produce this effect. To minimize the risk of fire, it would be a good idea to rub your hands until dry. This indicates the flammable alcohol is gone.
