When you’re on-the-go you don’t always have a sink at your disposal to quickly wash your hands. Hand sanitizer is a great alternative to keep clean and healthy; however there’s some fundamental information you need to know prior to using hand sanitizer.
How they work:
Hand sanitizers strip the outer-most layer of oil from your skin, including the bacteria. Depending on the anti-septic base of the hand sanitizer, the effectiveness of killing bacteria will vary. Unlike hand washing with soap and water, hand sanitizing is a “waterless” product and should not replace hand washing permanently. If there is visible dirt on your hands, it is recommended to use traditional soap and water to cleanse your hands.
What to look for in a hand sanitizer:
Not all hand sanitizers are the same. There’s certain features that make certain hand sanitizers more effective. Make sure that any hand sanitizer you use has at least these aspects to guarantee a clean hand after use.
• Make sure the hand sanitizer has an alcohol base. The alcohol-based hand sanitizers are antiseptic products that can be used to avoid the transmission of pathogens.
• A level of alcohol of at least 70% kills 99.9% of the bacteria on the hands 30 seconds after application. Make sure the hand sanitizer has at least a 62% alcohol level to be effective.
How to properly use:
To get the most out of your hand sanitizer you have to properly apply it. The CDC Clean Hands campaign proposes the public to use hand sanitizer in this manner:
1. Apply product to the palm of one hand
2. Rub hands together
3. Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry
The Mayo Clinic adds:
• Apply enough of the product to the palm of your hands to wet your hands completely
• Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces until they’re dry
• If your hands are visibly dirty, however, wash with soap and water
Types of hand sanitizers:
At this point in time, there are so many various types of hand sanitizers. Common alcohol rub brands include: Purell, Germ-X and Deb. There’s also a variety of wipes and towelettes that include an anti-septic feature for hand sanitizing on-the-go. Choose a type of hand sanitizer from a variety of options available through Fieldtex Products here: http://www.e-firstaidsupplies.com/hand-sanitizers.html.
References
http://biology.about.com/od/microbiology/a/handsanitizers.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_sanitizer
http://www.e-firstaidsupplies.com/hand-sanitizers.html
