Hand Sanitizer
Sanitizing to kill bacteria
Hand sanitizer is now an important part of our everyday lives – we’ve all pulled out the tiny bottle of hand sanitizer to rub on our hands after being in public areas or even being outside for a little while. It’s true that the hands pick up a lot of germs from living day to day in a social environment – door handles, toilets, hand rails and debit PIN pads all have germs crawling over their surfaces. Using hand sanitizer when there’s no soap and water can help stop the spread of germs and lessen the chance of getting sick.
Hand sanitizers use alcohol to kill germs on your skin. Most instant hand sanitizers are comprised of an alcoholic gel. The rubbing alcohol kills the germs and most viruses on your hands, then dries immediately, leaving your hands clean. Most hand sanitizers also have an aloe vera component or other moisturizer to stop the alcohol from drying out your hands.
It’s important to note that these gels, when ingested by children, have been linked to accidental poisoning, so supervise your child’s use of these products.
To use an antibacterial gel effectively, put a small amount on your hands and rub vigorously until you feel your hands drying. Keep in mind, these products will not clean your hands – they will simply kill germs. All dirt, blood and other materials should be washed from your hands before you use a hand sanitizer. Antibacterial gel should never replace hand washing; it should simply complement it.
Hand sanitizers should not be used for wound care, either. If you are dealing with wounds, keep a steripen or antiseptic wipes in your first aid kit. These can be gently wiped or dabbed onto wounds, killing any bacteria that could cause a secondary infection. Used in conjunction with bandages, they can actually speed the healing process.
There are many benefits to using a hand sanitizer in your everyday hygienic routine. Most of all, by killing germs you are reducing your risk of sickness, and your family’s risk, as well.
Why is Hand Sanitizer Essential for Illness Prevention?
- Hand sanitizer kills germs on contact, stopping them from spreading to other people.
- In conjunction with hand washing, hand sanitizer kills more germs and decreases your risk of getting sick.
Things to Consider When Buying Hand Sanitizer
- How much alcohol and what kind of alcohol is used in the sanitizer?
- Will you be in contact with children or the elderly, who are often more susceptible to disease?
Top Hand Sanitizer Brands
- Purell hand sanitizer
- Avant hand sanitizer
- SoftSoap hand sanitizer
