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Germ warfare is in full force.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said with the recent strain of influenza infections on the rise and vaccines in short supply, more people are becoming more germ aware.
With alcohol-based sanitizers and anti-bacterial soaps on the market, consumers have more prevention methods to combat the spread of viruses, but some can be harmful if not used in moderation.
“You should wash your hands with liquid soap and warm water for 20 seconds using a vigorous rubbing motion. If soap and water aren’t available, then use an alcohol-based hand rub,” according to the CDC Web site.
Steve Rogers, director of University Health Services, is trying to educate and inform the campus about the benefits of washing hands.
“Hand washing is still the preferred method for fighting the spread of bacteria that causes flu and other illness,” Rogers said. “We believe in using the sanitizers but on a secondary level when soap and water aren’t available.”
The alcohol-based hand sanitizers come with down sides. The winter months are known for giving people dryer skin, which alcohol-based sanitizers can make worse. If used frequently, they will dry the hands out more. If a person does have drier skin, it is recommended to use a moisturizer in conjunction with the hand sanitizers, Rogers said.
Ingestion among small children is another problem, said Scott Schaeffer, assistant managing director of the Poison Control Centers of Oklahoma.
Most sanitizer gels contain up to 70 percent ethyl alcohol, which is comparable to 120 proof alcohol, he said. There have been 12 to 16 cases per month in 2009 of children ingesting the sanitizers and more in October.
“For some reason, we had a spike in calls in October of this year,” Schaeffer said. “This is probably because people have it more readily available because of the recent flu outbreak.”
Also, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are flammable.
Schools are required to lock away any extra hand sanitizer in fire-proof lockers, said Cathy Stashak, a fire protection specialist with the Illinois State Fire Marshals Office.
“It doesn’t matter if you have an ounce of this or a gallon bottle, alcohol is a flammable liquid,” Stashak said. “If there is an ignition source, it could catch on fire.”
Aubreysue Messinger, medical correspondent for eHow, pointed out one fact people are forgetting.
“It is a misconception that it is good to attempt to kill all bacteria,” according to eHow Web site on anti-bacterial gel. “The so-called bad bacteria aids in the building of a stronger immune system.”
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