Best Hand Sanitizer Tips, Advice, Technique And Instructions
Hand sanitizers are widely use to sanitize the hands to prevent the spread of germs, bacteria and viruses especially more so during the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, it is still highly recommended that you wash your hands often with soap and plain water for at least 20 seconds especially after :
- You have been to a public place
- Using the washroom in a public place or at your office
- You have blown your nose, coughed or sneezed
- You have finished eating or drinking
- You have shaken hands with someone
- You have touched an animal
- You have touched a grocery cart or some other surface used by others
This is because normal soap or liquid hand wash and water not only removes dirt, oil, grease, paint and other organic matter from your hands, using soap also kills any bacteria, germs or viruses that you may have picked up when touching different surfaces.
And since we are prone to touching our face, eyes and mouth with our hands, we need to make sure our hands are constantly washed and disinfected to prevent us catching any bugs and getting sick.
We also want to avoid passing any germs or bugs to others by constantly maintaining clean hand hygiene.
If soap and water are not available, it is recommended to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol that is able to kills germs and bacteria on your hands.
Hand Sanitizer Technique Use
Before applying any hand sanitizer to your hands, please make sure all organic matter like dirt, grime, oil, paint is removed from your hands by washing with normal or liquid soap and water at a sink.
Apply a small amount of instant hand sanitizer to the palm of one hand and rub both hands together making sure to cover all surfaces of the hands and fingers with it. Rub until the hand sanitizer is fully absorbed.
If you have children with you, make sure their hands are clean first before you help to apply any hand sanitizer on to their hands.
This is because children may have traces of food still stuck on their hands after eating so if you are not able to find a sink with soap and water to wash their hands, use a wet wipe to wipe their hands clean first.
Hand sanitizers are meant to be applied on to the hands and not anywhere else.
It is not meant to replace the normal soap and water but is very convenient to use if you are outside without any access to a proper washroom with soap and water.
Apply the hand sanitizer to your hands periodically if you have touched any other surfaces or are out traveling or commuting to work.
The Benefits Of Using Hand Sanitizer
Using a hand sanitizer is definitely quicker than washing your hands at the sink with water and soap.
Hand sanitizers have been formulated to kill microorganisms quickly when applied to your hands.
They also come in various pocket size bottles which makes it easy to carry around in the pocket or hand bag for quick use.
When applied consistently, they reduce the bacterial count on your hands so that it lessens the chance of you getting infected after touching surfaces.
Some hand sanitizers have been formulated to also moisterise your skin so that it does not become dry as compared to using normal soap.
Hand Sanitizer Safety Usage Advice
Hand sanitizers should be rubbed into the hands until they feel completely dry before one continues with their activities.
This is important if those activities involve heat, sparks, static electricity or open flames.
If you are having a barbeque, please DO NOT use any hand sanitizers near the flame or heat.
Do not spray hand sanitizer anywhere near fire, flames or hot stove as it may combust as hand sanitizers are flammable liquids due to the alcohol content in them.
Keep them away from heat at all times for your own safety.
Always use hand sanitizers in well ventilated places so that you do not get overwhelmed by the smell or fumes especially in confined spaces.
For instance if you are in a car, wind down the windows when you are applying hand sanitizer to improve ventilation until your hands are dry.
Never leave any hand sanitizer in the car during the hot season as it could catch fire under extreme temperature and could cause your car to catch fire.
It is also not safe to use it when it has been kept in high temperature as the chemical may react with your skin when applied causing burns to the skin.
Make sure hand sanitizers are kept away from places of heat such as the kitchen stove, oven, fire place as high temperature may cause it to boil and explode while in the bottle.
Are Hand Sanitizers Dangerous For Children?
Hand sanitizers are only dangerous to children if they are eaten or ingested by them which could result in alcohol poisoning due to the alcohol content in them.
Even drinking a small amount of hand sanitizer can cause severe alcohol poisoning in children.
For children under 6 years old, hand sanitizers should be used with adult supervision according to usage directions.
However, there is no need to worry if your child eat with their hands or lick their hands after using hand sanitizer once the solution has dried or evaporated.
Parents need to keep the product away from the eyes as splashing or touching the eyes after using hand sanitizer can cause serious eye injury, eye irritation and damage to the surface of the eye.
Hence it is very important to keep hand sanitizers out of children's reach and to also monitor them when they are using it to prevent any accidents or injuries.
Parents also need to be aware of hand sanitizers that are packed to look like food or drinks and those that contain food flavors or fragrances that can attract children to consume them.
Again, eating or drinking any of those products can cause serious injury or death.
Also do not allow your pet to swallow or lick any hand sanitizer. If your pet has eaten or consumed any, quickly call or bring them to the nearest veterinarian.
Do Not Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizers that are made incorrectly can be ineffective or unsafe to use.
There have been reports of skin burns from the use of homemade hand sanitizers.
And adding alcohol to a non-alcohol hand sanitizer will result in an ineffective product.
It is recommended to use a hand sanitizer that has been certified safe and approved for use by the ministry of health.
Hand Sanitizer Storage
Hand sanitizers need to be kept out of reach and sight of children who may mistaken them for food especially those that are packaged with bright colors.
Keep them in a safety cabinet at home or use under adult supervision when there are children below 5 years old around to prevent them from eating or drinking it.
Hand sanitizers can be kept in a ziplock bag to prevent any spillage when you are bringing it out when traveling or commuting to work and used with an instant surface disinfectant.
They are to be kept at room temperature and away from heat or cold as extreme temperature can cause the chemical content to change which may make them unsafe to use. .
