Alcohol (ethanol) and alcohol sanitisers have been used in hospitals and medical centres as alcohol is effective in sterilizing both skin and medical instruments. Recently alcohol-based hand sanitisers have become popular in the house.
Why Have They Become Popular?
What Do The Sanitisers Do?
What Sanitisers Are Available?
Can Using These Harm My Skin?
Can My Child Be Poisoned?
Why Have They Become Popular?
These gels provide water free sanitisation and are particularly useful in situations where clean water and soap is not readily available. The time taken to properly wash and dry hands can be too long for a child who is wanting to go and play again, so being able to rub hands dry while returning to play can be attractive.
What Do The Sanitisers Do?
Alcohol sanitisers can kill many bacteria (though not all), viruses, and fungi from the skin. They do not provide appropriate levels of protection after working in food preparation. They are not useful if there has been contamination with dirt or chemicals.
What Sanitisers Are Available?
Most of the household products in Aotearoa/New Zealand have between 60 and 70% ethanol (alcohol). Some sanitisers can contain other ingredients that can also kill bacteria, making them more effective that those with alcohol alone.
Can Using These Harm My Skin?
Using alcohol hand sanitisers can dry the skin so many manufacturers add ingredients to help keep the skin moist. However, simply using soap and water can also be drying on the skin. If a person using a sanitiser develops any skin problems they should stop using that product.
Can My Child Be Poisoned?
Ingestion of the gel can lead to poisoning if sufficient was eaten. However, these gels usually do not taste particularly pleasant and so normally only a small amount is eaten.
If a child drinks any hand sanitiser the child should be given something to eat and your local poisons centre should be contacted for further information. The specialist will be able to tell you whether any medical care is required and what symptoms to be aware of.
Alcohol evaporates fairly quickly from the skin. It is important to continue to rub hands until dry to ensure that all of the alcohol has evaporated. If alcohol remains on the hand then there is a risk of eye irritation if the eye was rubbed.
