Hand sanitizer in short supply? Check your own supplies first
CNN is reporting Hand sanitizer in short supply as flu hits.
However, don’t waste your money on a panic buy situation. Look around your medicine chest, disaster supplies and school supplies before you go shopping – you may already have plenty for your family.
Those bottles do have expiration dates and even a little bottle will go a long way.
Posted: October 25th, 2009 under Disaster preparedness, H1N1 influenza.
Comments: 2
Comments
Comment from Carol M
Time: October 25, 2009, 8:59 pm
I’ll have to investigate this. My immediate reaction is that this is a product meant to be used when soap and water aren’t available. My understanding is that it is equally as effective as proper handwashing using the birthday song to time oneself. Antibacterial properites aren’t a requirement and some argue that this is why diseases are mutating. I suspect that most can use soap and water at home, at school, at work. I keep baby wipes also in my car. Do I have Purell type products? Yes, but they are a last resort measure as it severely aggrivates our eczyma, esp. in the Winter, which is fast approaching. THoughts?
Comment from Mom
Time: October 25, 2009, 9:32 pm
I am a nurse. You are correct that the best method is handwashing with warm water, soap and 15-20 seconds duration. However, if soap and water not readily available (in class, grocery store, using hand rails on stairs, etc) the hand sanitizers can be used instead. These are alcohol based products and kill surface germs but may not reach deep seated organisms. You may be thinking of “anti-bacterial” soaps, liquid soaps and other products. These are not necessary and do not lead to mutation, rather they let bacteria build defenses and become resistant.
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