Using Hand Sanitizers? Keep in Mind

The use of hand sanitizers is certainly to be recommended over unclean hands, and can limit the spread of infections such as the H1N1 Swine flu virus but a few things may be considered when using them:

• Using a hand sanitizer can certainly get rid of a lot of germs on the hands and they are very useful if one has been in public places, particularly rest rooms etc., however it may be remembered that these do not get rid of dirt and grime from the hands. Since this is a rinse-less form of hand hygiene i.e. you don’t rinse your hands after using it, the dirt and grime is actually not got rid of.
• If possible, one must use good old fashioned soap and water, particularly before eating. However, if that is not available then certainly a hand sanitizer is better than nothing.
• If using a hand sanitizer, consider using one with alcohol content and low or no water content. Research has shown alcohol based hand sanitizers with no water content to be most effective.
• Use them properly, all over the hands and between the fingers as well, so that you don’t miss a spot where the germs may be.
• Be careful about using too much on children’s hands. If children lick off the sanitizer before the alcohol has had a chance to evaporate, it may be harmful for the child and may even intoxicate the child.

Meanwhile the death toll from the Swine flu pandemic in India is now at 561. The total number of those infected has reached and crossed 17,000 total infections. One swine flu death was reported in Punjab yesterday and 260 new cases were reported in the country, taking the total number of people affected with the contagious flu to 17,486.

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