By: Janet Murray, R.E.H.S. Environmental Health Supervisor

This question came my way early this week from a teacher who was concerned that her children might become ill from using alcohol based hand sanitizers.  I had not really thought about that possibility before, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it was a possibility, albeit somewhat unusual.

There actually have been a couple cases where pre-school and elementary age children have ingested enough alcohol based hand sanitizers that they actually have become ill      (ok, drunk).  And, it really doesn’t take very much; an ounce or just a few squirts.  Most hand sanitizers contain about 62% ethyl alcohol.  That is the equivalent to drinking liquor that is 120 proof.  Kids, especially pre-schoolers and toddlers, are always putting their fingers, toys, or almost anything in their mouths.  So it does follow that if a parent, teacher, grandparent, or whoever puts a small amount of hand sanitizer in a child’s hand, telling them to rub it in, then goes to the next child, the child could decide to eat the sanitizer, or lick it off their fingers before the alcohol evaporates.

An important point to remember is that a lot of people think and are using hand sanitizers in place of washing their hands.  Wrong, wrong, wrong.  Hand sanitizers were not made to take the place of good handwashing.  They are made to compliment good handwashing, and for those few times when either there is no running water and soap or you are dealing with an extremely ill person.

The best advice is to keep any potentially dangerous substance out of reach of children.  That includes colored liquids, spray containers, pills, poisonous plants (like poinsettias), pesticides, and other cleaners and chemicals.  Children lack the experience and knowledge to distinguish poisons and other non-potables from harmless substances.  They may think that fuels, cough syrup and shampoo are safe to drink because they look (or smell) like fruit punches or soft drinks.

Before parents, educators, doctors, nurses, and food workers reach for the hand sanitizers, teach yourself, then your children GOOD HANDWASHING HABITS.  Wash after; using the restroom, scratching your head, sneezing, smoking, eating, handling chemicals, cleaning, taking out the trash, changing the baby, petting the dog or cat, cutting up raw meat, or any other action that may bring your hands into contact with large numbers of bacteria.  Use soap, hot water and work up a good lather, for about 20 seconds; rinse with hot water; dry your hands with a single use paper towel or hand dryer; turn off the water with the used paper towel, or if possible, use your elbows if towels are not available.  Open the door with the paper towel, and then toss it away.

The Randolph County Health Department has a limited supply of Handwashing posters that are free to the public.  You are welcome to pick one up at the Health Department Administrative Office from 8AM-5PM Monday-Friday.