While statistics are still out on how much difference antibacterial hand sanitizers make during winter cold and flu season, a bottle of sanitizer gel or container of wipes can be found in nearly every home, office, car, purse, and backpack.
Since alcohol-based hand sanitizers kill 99.9 % of germs on contact, medical facilities, long bastions of the hand soap dispenser and vigorous washing now augment that procedure with hand sanitizing stations. Hand sanitizers have virtually replaced simple hand washing in many private doctors offices.
Requiring a mere 60% alcohol content to work effectively, hand sanitizers kill germs quickly and efficiently with the added plus of allowing hands to air dry, eliminating the need for towels or drying wipes. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) defines a hand sanitizer as a hand antiseptic and endorses the method as an acceptable supplement or alternative to washing with soap and water.
Schools, from kindergartens to colleges encourage the use of antibacterial hand sanitizers. Once found only in bathrooms, sanitation stations are now found conveniently placed in school hallways and near doors. Small containers of waterless hand sanitizer are on school mandated shopping lists as required supplies for elementary students in most districts nationwide.
Grocery and department stores now provide hand sanitizing dispensers or stations in an effort to combat the transmission of germs. Placing waterless hand sanitizer stations near grocery carts so the customer can wipe down the handle before proceeding with their shopping is a thoughtful addition to many food stores.
Waterless hand sanitizers often contain natural oils to counteract the drying effects of the main ingredient, isopropanol, ethanol or n-propane alcohol as well as thickeners to keep the lotion from drying before it has had time to be most effective, at least 30 seconds. Hands visibly dirty need a soap and water cleanse prior to hand sanitation.
Public dispensers with a no-touch activation feature are recommended by the FDA. The battery-powered units are motion activated and available in wall or floor models. Portable pump dispensers are the least expensive way to provide hand sanitization for home or workplace, but must be touched to obtain the sanitizing lotion.
Flu virus, including the newest threat, the H1N1 virus can be effectively eradicated from the hands with an antibacterial hand sanitizer. Particular attention should be made to areas around all ten fingernails and any creases or injuries. It is recommended that items the hands touched before sanitizing such as door handles and computer keyboards be wiped with a sanitizing wipe to prevent contamination of newly clean hands.
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