When flu season comes around, people often get pretty obsessed with staying germ free. One way to stay germ-free wherever you may be – at home, on your commute, at work, out with friends – is by carrying hand sanitizer on you. Without a doubt, everyone can agree on the fact that reducing the spread of germs is a good thing, but how useful is hand sanitizer really? Let’s look at some FACTS and MYTHS about using hand sanitizer.
FACT
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can REDUCE the number of germs on your hands. However, these sanitizers do not eliminate all kinds of germs.
MYTH
If you use hand sanitizer, you don’t need to wash your hands. This is just not true. Even if you use the allotted amount of a good hand sanitizer (60% alcohol-based), you still need to wash your hands – and with soap. When your hands are visibly dirty or greasy, sanitizer will not help clean them. You can however, use sanitizer after a cough or sneeze or handling garbage for a quick germ sweep.
FACT
Not all hand sanitizers are created equal. While alcohol-free hand sanitizers may sound appealing, they aren’t effective when it comes to warding off harmful germs.
MYTH
Hand sanitizers that contain alcohol dry out your hands. While alcohol-based products can be tougher on the skin, using the recommended amount of alcohol-based hand sanitizer will not strip away your skin. Just don’t overuse it!
FACT
Anti-bacterial alcohol-free hand sanitizers can cause some germs to become resistant to sanitizers as well as some antibiotics. This is why it is essential that employers choose alcohol-based sanitizers.
MYTH
Using hand sanitizer can create supergerms. While this idea has gained much popularity, it is in fact a myth. Ethyl alcohol destroys the entire germ membrane, leaving nothing behind to let germs become resistant.
FACT
There is a correct way to use hand sanitizer. Apply it directly into the dry palm of your hand, rub your hands together spreading the sanitizer into all the nooks and crannies. Do this until the sanitizer has absorbed into your skin and your hands are dry.
Now that we’ve debunked fact from fiction, it is important to remember to go ahead and supply your workspace with alcohol-based hand sanitizers to help keep your employees healthy and proactive this season!