What you need to know about hand-sanitizers?

December 10 07:07 2020 Print This Article

The Covid-19 pandemic that has raged since February 2020 has shown yet again how vulnerable is the human race to disease and destruction. In the absence of a vaccine, preventive measures that limit the spread of the virus are paramount. These include social distancing, regular use of face mask, and washing one’s hands with soap and water as often as possible.

Most microbes such as bacteria and virus, including the Covid virus, have an outer layer made of protein. The chemical ingredient in soap has the ability to dissolve this outer layer which effectively destroys the microbe. Washing one’s hands with soap and water, for 20 seconds, as often as possible in the day, has been the best prevention against many microbes that infect through skin, respiratory and alimentary routes. This should be the first choice of prevention for people in the current pandemic. While outside the home or after returning home, one must wash hands with soap.

If access to soap and water is difficult, for example while using public transport or making purchases, then the use of a hand-sanitizer is an effective option. Hand-sanitizers are the best alternative to soap and water and will reduce the risk of ingesting or inhaling any microbe, including the Covid-19 virus.

Ever since the first SARS virus outbreak in 2002, the use of hand-sanitizers has increased in first-world countries and South-East-Asian countries. Relatively, India has been slow to adopt hand-sanitizers, until the current pandemic.

How does a hand-sanitizer work?

Hand-sanitizers are gel-like solutions made using an alcohol base such as ethanol or isopropyl alcohol (also called isopropanol or 2-propanol), water, perfume and a few other ingredients that are non-toxic to humans. Similar to soap, alcohol too can destroy the outer protective layer of microbes, and hence the microbes. Higher the alcohol content, better is the protection, so most hand-sanitizers contain 60-95% alcohol.

How to use a hand-sanitizer?

Take a coin-sized portion of sanitizer in the palm of one hand, then gently rub the 2 palms against each other, squish between fingers, rub on the outer palm and finger surfaces, then finally cover the base and sides of your palms. Do this till all the sanitizer has been absorbed, or your hands are fully dry. Do not wipe with a handkerchief/napkin/towel immediately.

When to use a hand-sanitizer?

Soap and water should be the first choice always as this can destroy all microbes including a few viruses which cannot be destroyed by sanitizers. This covers a wide range of activities such as before eating food, before, during, and after preparing food, after using the bathroom, after dressing a cut or wound, after changing soiled diapers and after touching wet or dry waste at home. It should also be used before and after caring for friends or family who are ill, who have diarrhoea or vomiting, after touching pets or stray animals, animal products, or animal waste, after touching pet food or pet related items, and finally if your hands are dirty or oily.

Sanitizer must be used during and after a ride in public transport, while driving/riding (during breaks), during and after visiting public places, after making purchases and after touching or shaking hands with somebody. Sanitizer can also be used before and after visiting an ill person at a hospital or clinic, where access to soap and water is difficult.

Caution

 Here are some important notes regarding the use of hand-sanitizers.

1. Purchase hand-sanitizers with 60% and above alcohol content.
2. Excessive use of hand-sanitizers can irritate your skin, so use with discretion.
3. So also, hand-sanitizer can be harmful if it gets into the eyes or is ingested/ swallowed. That is why; it must be kept out of the reach of infants and children. Children should use it with adult supervision.
4. Keep hand-sanitizers out of the reach of alcoholics or people suspected of alcohol abuse using alcohol-based products.
5. Disinfectant sprays and wipes are not the same as hand-sanitizers. These are strong chemicals to be used on hard surfaces. They can be toxic to humans and can cause serious side-effects. Do not allow anybody to spray any such disinfectant on you, in public places.
6. Alcohol is a flammable substance so anything that has an alcohol base is also flammable. So avoid using sanitizers where there is excess heat (such as a hot pressure cooker), sparks (such as welding machines or electric switches), static electricity (electronic equipment) and open flames (as in a gas stove).
7. The protection offered by hand-sanitizers in the current pandemic has opened up a huge marker for spurious hand-sanitizers. Avoid buying hand-sanitizers if they are not manufactured by a reputed pharma company. Read the labels to ensure there is 60% and above alcohol content. Avoid unknown brand names as sanitizers may be adulterated with methanol which is toxic to humans.
8. Many plant-based or ‘organic’ hand-sanitizers have also emerged this year. Avoid such products unless they are proven to be effective.
9. Do not buy costly hand-sanitizers only because the advertising says “anti-bacterial”, “anti-microbial” or “kills 99.99% microbes”. Sanitizers are anti-microbial by their inherent chemical action. And they are effective in killing almost all microbes except 3 viruses (clostridium difficile, cryptosporum and noravirus.)
10. Do not use hand-sanitizer if your hands are dirty and greasy. First clean your hands with soap and water and then use a sanitizer.
11. Do not store hand-sanitizers in open sunlight or near a source of heat. They could evaporate, which is a waste, or the vapours may become a fire hazard.
12. If you are running short of hand-sanitizers, do not dilute with water or an alcoholic beverage (people have done this) as it will render the product ineffective.
13. Most hand-sanitizers do not have an expiry date; however, there will be some evaporation over time which reduces the quantity. So check your stock of sanitizer from time to time.
14. Apartment complexes must keep hand-sanitizers in all common areas where residents are bound to touch multiple surfaces.
    

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