With the Covid-19 pandemic, it is now more important than ever before to wash and sanitise hands and surfaces.
Whether it be at home or the office – sanitiser is most likely to be decanted into smaller containers – often without a label to warn you what’s inside the bottle, and what safety precautions to keep in mind.
Remember – hand sanitisers can protect against disease-causing microbes, especially in situations when soap and water aren’t available. They’re also proven to be effective in reducing the number and type of microbes.
Alcohol, on the other hand, is known to be able to kill most germs.
Alcohol-free hand sanitisers contain something called quaternary ammonium compounds (usually benzalkonium chlo- ide) instead of alcohol. These can reduce microbes, but are less effective than alcohol.
Alcohol-based hand sanitisers are found to be effective in killing many types of bacteria, including MRSA and E. Coli. They are also effective against many viruses, including the influenza A virus, rhinovirus, hepatitis A virus, HIV and Middle East respiratory syndrome corona-virus (60% +alcohol).
Hand sanitisers with less than 60 per cent alcohol were found to be less effective in killing bacteria and may only reduce the growth of germs, rather than killing them outright. Alcohol-based hand sanitisers (with at least 60 per cent alcohol) are a practical alternative when soap and water aren’t available.
When using hand sanitiser, like when washing with soap and water, you should make sure you cover your hands (including between your knuc-kles, wrists, palms, the back of your hand and fingernails) fully. You should rub it in for at least 20 seconds, so it’s genuinely effective.
Dangers of drinking alcohol-based sanitiser
There are hazardous side effects that come from drinking hand sanitiser. They include damage to internal organs, vision problems, memory loss and alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poiso-n-ing can even lead to death.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studied data on the adverse effects associated with exposure to alcohol-based hand sanitiser in children 12 years of age and younger.
The study found that 70 669 expo-sures to alcohol and non-alcoholic hand sanitisers were reported between 2011 and 2014.
Most (90%) of exposures occurred in children 0–5 years of age through oral ingestion.
Children 6–12 years of age had more intentional exposures to alcohol hand sanitisers.
The most common adverse effects included eye irritation and vomiting. Conjunctivitis, oral irritation, cough and abdominal pain were also reported. Rare side effects included coma, seizures, hypo-glycaemia, metabolic acidosis and respiratory depression. In certain severe cases, it even led to death.
Rather safe than sorry
* Like all other chemicals, you must keep sanitiser away from children.
* You should keep it out of sunlight
* Store in a dark place and keep the cap tightly closed.
* If you have alcohol-based sanitiser on your hands, don’t rub your eyes.
* Label or, at least, mark smaller containers, identifying what is inside.
(Information supplied by Kleynex Trading Solutions, manufacturers of Klex 19, a 70+ alcohol-based product that is locally manufactured, as well as Pharmacytimes.com).
