Using hand sanitizers with youngsters

[Bewitched]

Apparently using hand sanitizers on kids can be fatal if they ingest it, due to the alcohol content...:eek:

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/sanitizer.asp


Hmmm, can anyone confirm if this is hand sanitizers in general? Or hand sanitizers in America?

I have confirmed this story is true through Snopes.com, but as that is an American website i am unsure if Australia has the same ingredients in sanitizers?

[Chickadee]

I don't have any in the house to check against. But I would guess that Australian hand sanitizers also contain significant amount of alcohol that could be dangerous if ingested by a little one. It is the alcohol that makes these sanitizing product 'self drying' so that you don't have to rinse your hands after with water or dry them off usually.

[SilverStarfish]

Apparently using hand sanitizers on kids can be fatal if they ingest it, due to the alcohol content...:eek:
Using hand sanitisers on children isn't going to kill them - its when they drink it that's the problem. Water free sanitisers work because of the alcohol content - it evaporates instead of needing to be wiped off like soap and water.

Its like any household cleaner or product - they say "keep out of reach of children" for a reason.

[Jinglebells]

yip it is possible

you'll fond that ,most things antibacterial or disenfectants will contain alcohol,

from memory when we use it on our skins the alcohol content in it evaporates, but I would think if a kid put their fingers in their mouths before that happened it can make you sick

if you think about it, a bacterum is a living organisim, anything that is made to kill them can potentally harm us

[Grizabella]

Toothpaste is also dangerous if ingested , so is soap, shampoo, makeup. I use the water free sanitiser, but always have it out of reach. Bit like anything really - just have to make sure they can't get to it.

[Bewitched]

Thanks everyone, i wasn't thinking about it in the broader spectrum really.. i know lots of soaps are dangerous if they are ingested, but i didn't think that alcohol was contained in the sanitizers, which i believe has to be more fatal than some other soap ingredients :( Will remember that for the future :)

[Grizabella]

Oh yeah it is definately more toxic then soap etc. if it is swallowed. One of the major drawbacks in using it you have to be so careful where you leave it...

[mavuva]

I came accross a great new product for kids about a month ago called Handy-Hanz, its a hand sanitiser just for kids. Its really good, no alcohol, and has a banana fragrance. Its :australia-flag-06: made as well. My daycare is now using it. thought I would share this with you guys.