Here's the Snopes (Urban legends) link: Snopes

Turns out that (a) the alcohol level in hand sanitizers is very high; (b) sometimes it tastes good to children; and (c), most parents don't think of this product as dangerous when they think about child-proofing bathrooms and kitchens, etc.

By Kate on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 02:06 pm:

Oh this sanitizer stuff makes me crazy!! Those of you who have followed my posts of the past are probably well aware that I'm a germ freak and like people and places CLEAN!

HOWEVER...it may surprise you all to know that I am opposed to hand sanitizer and antibacterial products! Oh don't get me wrong, they both have their place, but their place is not in every bathroom soap dispenser and every classroom in the world! Plain soap and water kills the germs just a fraction less than sanitizer and antibacterial soap, and then you're not killing off all the weak germs and building up the super bugs that are showing up more and more frequently in our world. Sanitizer is now used in place of hand washing and that's just so dumb! It's not economical and it's not prudent. And now here's proof that it's dangerous! This stuff is used all day long in my DD's K class. It really annoys me. There is a SINK *in* the classroom!!! But hand washing takes too long and is too messy so they have to use the way too handy dandy sanitizer. Sigh. The other day her hands got STICKY from her snack and she asked if she could wash her hands and she was told NO, to use SANITIZER!! Huh?? To wash off STICKINESS??? Grrrr....

Thanks for this, Ginny. I've passed it on to the people in charge and school and church where it is oh so prominently used in each and every room.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 02:29 pm:

I like using the hand sanitizer, at the clinic where I work, because we have to wash our hands to much and it does take longer to wash with soap and water. It just makes it more efficient and they found out it cleans our hands just as well. AFter bathroom visits we are supposed to use soap and water and every so often you need to use soap and water anyway.

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 02:39 pm:

We only use hand sanitizers if/when we have no access to soap and water.

By Tarable on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 02:59 pm:

I carry some in my car just in case we get into something while out but I don't think we have used it in months.

I do agree with Kate about the antibacterial soap though, I think this has to be why all the super bugs are becoming more common.

By Cocoabutter on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 03:46 pm:

I used to work in a bakery at the local grocery store, and we had someone from the state health department come in and hold a meeting, a refresher course on food service cleanliness requirements. She said that hand sanitizer really doesn't kill the germs on your hands, it just moves them around. She did the powder under the black light experiment, and it seemed to prove her right.

I recently used the hand sanitizer provided by the store in the bottle return area, and it hurt so bad! I had a cut on my hand that I didn't know was even there!

I used to use anti-bacterial soap in my bathroom, but it dried out the skin on my son's hands.

So nothing compares to soap and hot water (at least as hot as you can stand it.)

By Nicki on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 04:34 pm:

Thanks for posting this, Ginny. I've started researching the effectiveness of all these sanitizers and antibacterials. I'm leaning towards Kate's opinion. I would like to go back to simple soap and water. It's frightening to think about this stuff going back into our water system and the overall effects. And, I too, have to wonder if we aren't working against our natural balance and creating a future super bug. After reading this latest article, I'm ready to dump all this stuff and go back to the basics.

By Wandilu on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 11:03 pm:

Can someone email this to me? I clicked on the email sign and tried to email this to my grown dk's.It goes to my email server, but the article itself doesn't.It's just blank. My ds uses this stuff RELIGIOUSLY on his dk's.My addr is rlk wlk @ hotmail .com TIA

By Kate on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 11:05 pm:

Wanda, just cut and paste the article into your email and email that to your kids. That should work.

By Bellajoe on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 02:29 pm:

I just sent this to my ds's kindergarten teacher. They use that stuff all over the school and it's at every table in the cafeteria. IT would be crazy to try to have each kid wash his or her hands before lunch because there really is not that much time, but there has to be a better way.

By Pamt on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 05:50 pm:

Thanks for posting this. I used this stuff at work with kids A LOT because my toddlers and preschoolers are constantly putting fingers in their mouths, ears, noses, (and pants ) and if I stopped to wash their hands every time we would spend a whole therapy session doing nothing but that. I do have a couple of kids who do lick it off immediately too. Of course, I don't use it with them because it is pointless. I sent the link to our whole therapy staff and will just do even more toy washing than I already do I guess. Sigh.

As far as soap and water in schools... For older children (maybe kdg+ depending in the child), I would personally still recommend using it. Children do not know how to wash their hands properly and it is not effective against germs. You should wash your hands for at least 30 seconds, getting between the fingers, on the backs of hands, under fingernails, etc. Most kids put soap on their hands, stick their hands under the faucet which immediately washes the soap off, without ever getting a good lather on the palms of their hands, much less anywhere else on their hands. I don't think we should have an alarmist reaction and ditch the gel altogether...everything in moderation.

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 08:19 am:

Pam, I agree with you! At work, we have to wash our hands soooo much, and the gel is so much quicker.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 10:12 am:

I personally don't use the gels because, as Kate notes, I think these "antibacterial" products help to promote the development of new antibiotic resistant bacteria. But, please note, my heading is to point out the dangers to children, not to adults. Clearly, with the high alcohol content of these products, it is important to be very careful that children do not ingest them, by sipping or hand-licking, etc. That's my only concern. Beyond that - santize or not, as you choose. It's not my problem.