| While statistics are still out on how much difference | | | | the transmission of germs. Placing waterless hand |
| antibacterial hand sanitizers make during winter cold | | | | sanitizer stations near grocery carts so the customer |
| and flu season, a bottle of sanitizer gel or container of | | | | can wipe down the handle before proceeding with |
| wipes can be found in nearly every home, office, car, | | | | their shopping is a thoughtful addition to many food |
| purse, and backpack. Since alcohol-based hand | | | | stores. |
| sanitizers kill 99.9 % of germs on contact, medical | | | | Waterless sanitizers often contain natural oils to |
| facilities, long bastions of the hand soap dispenser and | | | | counteract the drying effects of the main ingredient, |
| vigorous washing now augment that procedure with | | | | isopropanol, ethanol or n-propane alcohol as well as |
| hand sanitizing stations. Hand sanitizers have virtually | | | | thickeners to keep the lotion from drying before it has |
| replaced simple hand washing in many private doctors | | | | had time to be most effective, at least 30 seconds. |
| offices. | | | | Hands visibly dirty need a soap and water cleanse |
| Requiring a mere 60% alcohol content to work | | | | prior to hand sanitation. |
| effectively, hand sanitizers kill germs quickly and | | | | Public dispensers with a no-touch activation feature |
| efficiently with the added plus of allowing hands to air | | | | are recommended by the FDA. The battery-powered |
| dry, eliminating the need for towels or drying wipes. | | | | units are motion activated and available in wall or floor |
| The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) defines a hand | | | | models. Portable pump dispensers are the least |
| sanitizer as a hand antiseptic and endorses the | | | | expensive way to provide hand sanitization for home |
| method as an acceptable supplement or alternative to | | | | or workplace, but must be touched to obtain the |
| washing with soap and water. | | | | sanitizing lotion. |
| Schools, from kindergartens to colleges encourage the | | | | Flu virus, including the newest threat, the H1N1 virus can |
| use of antibacterial hand sanitizers. Once found only in | | | | be effectively eradicated from the hands with an |
| bathrooms, sanitation stations are now found | | | | antibacterial sanitizer. Particular attention should be |
| conveniently placed in school hallways and near doors. | | | | made to areas around all ten fingernails and any |
| Small containers of waterless hand sanitizer are on | | | | creases or injuries. It is recommended that items the |
| school mandated shopping lists as required supplies for | | | | hands touched before sanitizing such as door handles |
| elementary students in most districts nationwide. | | | | and computer keyboards be wiped with a sanitizing |
| Grocery and department stores now provide hand | | | | wipe to prevent contamination of newly clean hands. |
| sanitizing dispensers or stations in an effort to combat | | | | |