Does hand sanitizer work？

Every October 15th, Global Hand Washing Day emphasizes the importance of washing hands with hand sanitizer and soapy water at home, in the community and around the world.

The external icon of Global Handwashing Day reminds us every year that washing our hands with soapy water and hand sanitizer is one of the best steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

This passage is going to talk about the following questions of hand sanitizer:

(1)How does hand sanitizer kill viruses?

(2)Is hand sanitizer safe?

(3)Warnings of hand sanitizer

 

(1)How does hand sanitizer kill viruses?

How to wash hands with hand sanitizer to remove bacteria and chemicals?

The soapy water or hand sanitizer foams to trap and remove bacteria and chemicals from your hands. Before dipping soap and hand sanitizer, wet your hands with clean water. Compared to drying hands with soap, hand sanitizer can get better lather. Good foam will form pockets called micelles, which trap and remove bacteria, harmful chemicals and dirt from your hands.

In this process, it is very important to use hand sanitizer to foam and scrub your hands for 20 seconds, because these actions will physically destroy bacteria and remove bacteria and chemicals from the skin. When you wash your hands, you flush these bacteria and chemicals into the drain.

After washing your hands, please use a clean towel or air dry your hands.

 

(2)Is hand sanitizer safe?

Nowadays, DIY hand sanitizer recipes are all over the Internet-but are they safe? These recipes are used by professionals with professional knowledge and resources to safely make homemade hand sanitizer. Only in extreme cases, when you cannot wash your hands in the foreseeable future, is it recommended to use homemade hand sanitizer.

Incorrect composition or ratio can lead to: lack of efficacy, which means that the disinfectant may not be able to effectively eliminate the risk of exposure to some or all microorganisms

Skin irritation, injury or burns, exposure to harmful chemicals through inhalation

It is not recommended for children to use homemade hand sanitizer. Children may be more likely to use incorrect hand sanitizer, which may lead to a greater risk of injury.

 

(3)Warnings of hand sanitizer

Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizer may cause alcohol poisoning. why? Ethanol (ethanol) hand sanitizers are safe to use as directed, but if a person swallows more than two mouthfuls, they can cause alcohol poisoning.

From 2011 to 2015, the U.S. Poison Control Center received nearly 85,000 calls about children's exposure to hand sanitizer 25. Children may be especially likely to swallow hand sanitizers that are scented, brightly colored, or well-packaged. Hand sanitizer should be stored out of the reach of children and should be used under adult supervision. Child-proof hats can also help reduce hand sanitizer-related poisoning among young children24. Older children and adults may deliberately swallow hand sanitizer and get drunk.

Therefore, you must take good care of your children and never let them eat hand sanitizer by mistake.

 

A person may get the virus by touching surfaces or objects that have the virus on them frequently, and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes with unwashed hands. Although this is not the main way the virus spreads, we are still learning more about how the virus spreads. Cleaning and disinfecting visible surfaces is the best practice measure to prevent COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases caused by viruses.

This reflects the importance of hand sanitizer and soap. For the health of you and your family, wash your hands frequently and use hand sanitizer frequently!