Tag Archive for soap

Read Before Using that Hand Sanitizer

June 23, 2020 Comments Off on Read Before Using that Hand Sanitizer

Most of us are using hand sanitizer to protect ourselves and our loved ones from getting sick. Question is, are we using the right one (not just 60%, but the ingredients, too), using it at the right time and properly, and know its effectiveness and dangers? AARP put out a helpful article that answers these concerns. I’ll list their warnings and you should go to 7 Things to Know About Hand Sanitizer for details.

1.Hand sanitizer kills germs but doesn’t clean your hands.

2.Sanitizer trumps soap and water in certain situations.

3.Not all hand sanitizers are equal.

4.Sanitizing technique matters.

5.Cleaning products are not a substitute for hand sanitizer.

6.Hand sanitizer can be dangerous.

7.Hand sanitizer can be dangerous.

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Coronavirus: What’s Better Protection than Masks?

March 3, 2020 Comments Off on Coronavirus: What’s Better Protection than Masks?

Masks of any type are not that effective, because any part of a mask not tightly against our skin can let in germs. And none of us can keep, either consciously or unconsciously, from reaching up to adjust it so it’s more comfortable or we want to scratch under it. Besides, our eyes–touching them can bring infection into our bodies–are still out in the open.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says that the most effective guard against disease, including Coronavirus, is hand-washing. But not the way we often tend to do it. We should do it often, but especially under certain circumstances. See their article. The article also discusses hand sanitizers (always 60% alcohol!), their effectiveness, and how to use them. Here are their 5 steps the CDC says to take for effective hand-washing:

  1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
  2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
  3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
  4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
  5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
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The Bacteria are Winning

August 3, 2018 Comments Off on The Bacteria are Winning

What good is that hand sanitizer we trust to keep germs away? Not as good as it used to be. It’s alcohol-based, and bacteria are adapting to alcohol. When sanitizers were put into use in hospitals, some infections decreased, but others (especially ones affecting the bladder, heart, and digestive tract–the enterococcal infections) actually increased.

Right now, increasing the amount of alcohol from the usual 60% in hand sanitizers to 70% helps, but bacteria are adjusting to the higher concentration, as well.  Read more about this at Some Bacteria Are Becoming ‘More Tolerant’ Of Hand Sanitizers, Study Finds.

And there are questions about how healthy such sanitizers are for humans.

The solution: Public health experts direct hospitals and us back to basics, which means frequent, adequate (20-30 seconds) washing of hands with plain soap that doesn’t contain anti-bacterial additives. Ignore the issue of hot vs. cold water, because they work the same, since your hands can’t stand water hot enough to kill bacteria.

Keep healthy, Friends!

 

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