Apr 29, 2009 9:32 pm US/Central
How To Choose And Use Hand Sanitizer Effectively
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
A lot of people are buying hand sanitizers these days. But how well do they work? And are some better than others? CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot explains there is a difference between brands. And how you use them makes a difference, too.
Searching bare shelves, Constanza Iannello is sharing her quest to find hand sanitizer in the wake of the
swine flu outbreak.
"Several places, many places, I don't find it," Iannello said.
She says she's been to two drugstores and still can't find it.
"Yes, Walgreens and CVS," Iannello said.
But just how effective is
hand sanitizer when it comes to swine flu? We asked Mary Alice Lavin. Lavin is the Chief Nurse Epidemiologist of the Infection Control Department at Rush University Medical Center.
"There's no reason to believe that the swine flu virus is any different than any of the standard influenza viruses, in that the alcohol is effective against it," Lavin said.
Lavin says sanitizers kill 99.9 percent of the germs on your hands. The effect can last for up to three hours. Gel versions are better because they coat your hands more. Those with 60 to 95 percent ethyl alcohol are the best to kill bacteria.
The most effective way to use hand sanitizer is by putting about a dime-size to a quarter-size amount in the palm of your hand. Coat the front of your hand, the back of your hand, go in between your fingers and also, get it under your nails and rub your hands until they're dry. This makes sure you kill most of the germs that could be on your hands.
"There have been many studies that have proven that they are actually more effective than some soap and water products, certainly better than just regular soap and water," Lavin said.
Lavin stresses any time your hands come in contact with a body fluid, after a sneeze or cough, use anti-bacterial or regular soap with water, especially if you see dirt on your hands. If soap and water are not readily available, sanitizers are always a good back up.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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