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Warning after child suffers horrific burn from everyday item

<p dir="ltr">When it comes to using hand sanitiser, most of us don’t think twice and squeeze a little on our palms. </p> <p dir="ltr">Almost every place has hand santiser handy, but this has renewed calls to parents to keep an eye out for it around their children. </p> <p dir="ltr">Paramedic and mum-of-two Nikki took to Instagram to show the dangers of children misusing hand-sanitiser. </p> <p dir="ltr">She shared an image of a young boy named James to the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cawa4MAM34G/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tiny Hearts Education</a> page, who suffered a horrific chemical burn in his eye after using a foot pump hand sanitiser dispenser.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It took days for James to be able to open his eyes and several weeks to get the all-clear of no long-term damage,” Nikki wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">Exposure of the chemicals in hand-sanitiser to the eye can cause minor injuries or even “complete blindness”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“These kinda accidents can occur from a whole range of chemicals. It could be acidic agents such as bleach, window cleaner, vinegar and pool chemicals, or alkali agents such as fertilisers, drain cleaners, sparklers, plaster and cement - but the list is endless!”</p> <p dir="ltr">The passionate mother warned parents in similar incidents to irrigate the area first, listing how to do so, before rushing to the emergency department.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Irrigating the eye is so important as we aim to flush out as much of the chemical as possible. It is best done with Normal Saline but when this is not available running water will do the trick.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She suggested wrapping the child “like a burrito to help keep them still”, while assisting older children over the sink.</p> <p dir="ltr">Slightly warm water should be run over the eyes as the child blinks repeatedly to help flush out the chemical. This should be done for at least 15 minutes. </p> <p dir="ltr">Nikki also warned of contacts to be removed before any process. </p> <p dir="ltr">“P.S Also a reminder - PLEASE do not let little ones use foot pump hand sanitiser dispensers!!”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Critics slam new “sanitised” Michael Jackson musical

<p dir="ltr">Theatre critics have slammed the new Michael Jackson musical that hit Broadway this year for its blatant “sanitisation” of child abuse allegations against the late popstar. </p><p dir="ltr">The musical, called <em>MJ</em>, documents Michael as he prepared for his four-continent Dangerous Tour of 1992, while also dealing with an MTV documentary crew who filmed his incessant rehearsals. </p><p dir="ltr">Throughout the musical, fans get glimpses into the artist's life, with flashbacks to his time in the Jackson Five and his difficult upbringing. </p><p dir="ltr"><em>MJ</em> was written by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, and was produced by Jackson's estate with an apparent promise not to mention the young boys who accused the star of sexually harassing them, despite taking place just one year before the first allegation came out. </p><p dir="ltr">The musical debuted on Broadway recently, with Michael’s three children Paris, 23, Prince, 24, and Prince Michael “Bigi” Jackson, 19, in the audience. </p><p dir="ltr">Critics at the show’s opening night rallied against the musical, noting that the show attempts to separate the art from the artist, while conveniently ignoring the child sex abuse allegations that overshadowed Jackson's career.  </p><p dir="ltr">Many of the reviews, including one for the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/01/theater/mj-musical-review.html">New York Times</a>, mentioned the fact that Jackson's estate were involved in producing what was essentially an 'authorised autobiography', which is why the story featured such watered-down references.</p><p dir="ltr">The review, written by Jesse Green, says, “In this, <em>MJ</em> is trying to have it both ways. It wants to blame everything sad and weird about Jackson on others… but credit him alone for his every good deed and success.”</p><p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Music

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“Like a monster”: Extreme reaction triggered during pandemic

<p>Lauren Rigby, a 22-year-old training to be a vet nurse, was one of many lives dramatically changed by the coronavirus pandemic. </p> <p>But not in the same way as everyone else. </p> <p>After a seemingly innocent trip to her local shops, Lauren's life was thrown into disarray as she noticed a rash forming on her hands.</p> <p>"They were saying please use hand sanitiser so I just put a little bit on and it started burning," she said.</p> <p>"I asked mum 'are your hands burning'? she said, 'no'."</p> <p>In the following weeks, Lauren developed severe eczema, which was impacting her everyday life. </p> <p><span>"I started noticing at the shops they were spraying disinfectant, even on the clothes, and then I noticed my body was covered in a rash after trying on clothes," she said.</span></p> <p><span>Her fragile skin started to peel off and her hair began to fall out, as her body had an extreme reaction. </span></p> <p><span><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844688/lauren-rigby.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a235e027209e4af2b2496e47870439ba" /></span></p> <p><em>Image credits: Channel 9 - A Current Affair</em></p> <p>"I was so swollen that it if you touched my arm it would leave a dent and my skin peeled off into piles that we had to vacuum up," Ms Rigby said.</p> <p>Lauren was hospitalised after her eczema triggered a genetic condition called Erythroderma, all caused by hand sanitiser. </p> <p>More than 12 months on, Lauren has a strict skincare regiment that is helping to slowly bring her eczema under control. </p> <p>"How can something so tiny change my life," she said.</p> <p>"I've never used hand sanitiser this year and I'll never use it again."</p> <p>Melanie Funk from Eczema Support Australia said there had been an increase of people seeking help during the COVID-19 period.</p> <p>"Certainly hand eczemas and facial eczemas are increasing with the pandemic measures," she said.</p> <p><span>"You shouldn't suffer in silence, there are others that understand, get support, get help, get treatment."</span></p> <p><em>Image credits: Channel 9 - A Current Affair</em></p>

Body

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How to have moist hands and use hand sanitiser

<p>One of the effects of the pandemic is the fact our hands are looking a bit worse for wear. We’re washing them more and using a lot of hand sanitiser but there are things you can do to minimise the negative effect on your hands.</p> <p>Obviously, in comparison to the Delta virus, lockdowns and economic anxiety, irritated hands could be seen as a minor issue. But we're using sanitiser which has to have an alcohol content greater than 60 percent to be efficient. But this high alcohol content can cause skin irritation and this in turn can make conditions like dermatitis or split nails even worse.</p> <p><strong>Hand sanitiser has a strong effect</strong></p> <p>When looking at hand sanitisers specifically, Dr Michele Squire says the alcohol destroys microbes and makes the sanitiser quick-drying so it’s effective.</p> <p>But according to Dr Squire, it also dissolves the lipids which are arranged between our skin cells and leads to a reduction in our skin's barrier function.</p> <p>"With excessive use, this alters the skin's ability to regulate water loss and hold onto water, in turn leading to dehydration and dry skin, although much less so than repeated washing with soap and water" adds Squire.</p> <p>So, it's no surprise that using a moisturiser as often as you can is the best way to ensure your hands and nails stay hydrated and irritation-free. But here are a few tips to make sure you get the most out of your moisturising.</p> <p><strong>Let your hand sanitiser dry off before moisturising</strong></p> <p>When you use hand sanitiser, let it dry completely before going in with your moisturiser. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gotoskincare/photos/a.275816065917974/1533674663465435/?type=3&amp;theater">Go-To Skincare</a> (the brainchild of Zoë Foster-Blake) recommends waiting 10 minutes.</p> <p>"Applying it straight after can neutralise the sanitiser's effectiveness," they state.</p> <p><strong>Don’t use moisturiser before you use sanitiser</strong></p> <p>Another tip is not to use moisturiser before you use sanitiser. If you apply sanitiser to recently moisturised hands, your protection is significantly reduced.</p> <p>As well, your sanitiser won't work if your hands are soiled or greasy, if you wipe it off before it's completely dry, if you don't apply it to your entire hand, and if you don't use enough.</p> <p>"You should be able to rub your hands together for about 20 seconds before it dries — and don't forget between your fingers and the back of hands!" says Dr Squire.</p> <p><strong>Fragrance-free moisturisers are best</strong></p> <p>Dr Squire suggests using a fragrance-free moisturiser after each wash to replace lipids and NMF (natural moisturising factor) components lost from dry skin.</p> <p>Talk to your local pharmacist if you're unsure of best options for your skin issues.</p> <p>Dr Squire recommends using a synthetic detergent-based soap to wash your hands. She says: "These use stearic acid to protect and moisturise skin and a mild surfactant."</p> <p>Another tip is to add a drop or two of your hydrating facial serums and oils to your hands before bed each night.</p> <p>If you combine these tips with a good moisturiser, you'll be helping your hands cope with this new regime.</p> <p><em>Photo: Getty Images</em></p> <p> </p>

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Grandma puts toddler in hospital after hand sanitiser mix-up

<p>An 18-month-old boy has been taken to hospital after his grandmother accidentally gave him a pouch of hand sanitiser instead of food.</p> <p>The mother of the urged parents to not buy sachets of hand sanitiser because they look so similar to baby food pouches.</p> <p><img style="width: 472.253052164262px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838015/1-75.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/cc30d14f6428405d8b0fdd6345cca5eb" /></p> <p>“Please DO NOT buy these cute hand sanitiser pouches from Wal-Mart that can easily be mistaken for a food pouch,” Nikki Teixeira posted on Facebook in August.</p> <p>According to the mum, the grandmother opened the son’s baby bag and took the pouch out.</p> <p>She thought the hand sanitiser was puree and gave it to the 18-month-old, who ingested it before being rushed to hospital.</p> <p>“He took a sip and immediately turned red and started coughing, so she grabbed it from him and then immediately saw it was hand sanitiser," Ms Teixeira told Good Morning America.</p> <p>"She [the grandmother] called her neighbour and called 911 because he started to get a little bit dozy and out of it, and then five minutes later he was falling asleep.”</p> <p>The child did not suffer any further symptoms, but his mother said he lost his appetite for a day along with being irritable.</p> <p>The child’s mum said she purchased the Trollz-branded hand sanitiser for her step-daughter who was going back to school.</p> <p>“The way it was packaged and displayed with hand sanitisers, I didn't even think of it looking like a food,” she said.</p> <p>She said the medical professionals who saw the pouch of hand sanitiser were “appalled” by how similar it looked to food.</p> <p>“The ER doctor even took it upon herself to send a picture to her colleague who works with poison control in attempt to raise awareness,” the mum explained.</p> <p>Smart Care, the brand that sold the hand sanitiser, has since pulled the product from the shelves, Good Morning America reported.</p>

Caring

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Thieves swap out hospital hand sanitiser for water

<p>Health expert and television personality Dr Andrew Rochford has urged the public to stop stealing protective supplies from hospitals as doctors across Australia continue to report shortages of masks and other equipment.</p> <p>Speaking in a clip shared on Twitter, Dr Rochford said a hospital reported that 190 full hand sanitiser bottles were stolen in a single shift.</p> <p>“We actually found that somebody had emptied one of these bottles and filled it with water,” he said.</p> <p>“So for an entire shift, there were medical workers sanitising their hands between patients using water.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Please don’t steal essential supplies and protective equipment from our hospitals. It protects us so we can protect you. Thanks 🙏🏼 <a href="https://t.co/1y3NgiYcJX">pic.twitter.com/1y3NgiYcJX</a></p> — Dr Andrew Rochford (@_AndrewRochford) <a href="https://twitter.com/_AndrewRochford/status/1244018617970122753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>He warned that the act was “dangerous” and put the lives of both the patients and the medical staff at risk.</p> <p>“Everyone’s scared, everyone’s stressed, but … just please leave the protective equipment in the hospitals. We need it.”</p> <p>The plea came as NSW Health reported thefts of masks, hand sanitiser and gloves from hospitals.</p> <p>A medical supplies company director said hospitals were forced to introduce <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-25/coronavirus-queensland-ppe-mask-shortage-doctors/12086562">more measures to deter theft</a>. “[People are] stealing things from hospitals,” the director said.</p> <p>“Hospitals have had to put their masks under lock and key, pallets of hand sanitiser are going missing from hospitals.”</p> <p>Some doctors also claimed they were told to reuse disposable face masks at a Sydney hospital.</p> <p>Two anaesthetists told the <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-30/sydney-doctors-asked-to-reuse-face-masks-in-coronavirus-shortage/12100952">ABC</a> </em>they were asked to name and date their N95 or P2 masks and put them in a communal bin for future use.</p> <p>“We’re asked to reuse them so that in a few weeks’ time if all of a sudden there are no masks then at least we can go back to that – because the other option is [we’ll have] nothing,” one anaesthetist said.</p> <p>“We’re terrified to be honest. It’s as if we are being sent to war with no gun.”</p>

Caring

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Shane Warne's "wartime shift" to help hospitals during pandemic

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Former cricket legend Shane Warne has turned his gin distillery into a hand sanitiser factory to help supply Australians during the coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>SevenZeroEight halted production of its gin this week to produce medical grade 70 per cent alcohol hand sanitiser for Western Australian hospitals.</p> <p>The decision was made by Warne himself as well as the company’s founders, which include two WA surgical specialists, the cricket legend said.</p> <p>An agreement has been reached between two nominated Western Australian hospitals and the company to provide a continuous supply of hand sanitiser at cost.</p> <p>The names of the hospitals are not made public.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B94FBf-DGrO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B94FBf-DGrO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">@708gin switching to producing #handsanitizer for @westernaustralia hospitals. Still plenty of Gin in stock with free shipping www.708gin.com.au</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/708gin/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> SevenZeroEight Gin Collection</a> (@708gin) on Mar 18, 2020 at 6:12am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"This is a challenging time for Australians and we all need to do what we can to help our healthcare system combat this disease and save lives," Warne said in a media statement.</p> <p>"I am happy SevenZeroEight has the ability to make this shift and encourage others to do the same."</p> <p>Warne founded the gin distillery last year and was named after the 708 wickets he took during his test career.</p> <p>His urge to help came after coronavirus panic buying has left shelves empty in supermarkets and pharmacies across Australia.</p> </div> </div> </div>

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Science teacher reveals how to make homemade hand sanitiser with only two ingredients

<p>A science teacher has revealed how to make hand sanitiser in a sauce bottle as people struggle to find stock during the coronavirus outbreak.</p> <p>As the outbreak continues, supermarket shelves have been stripped of everyday essentials such as hand sanitiser and toilet paper.</p> <p>Australian science teacher and YouTuber Jacob Strickling showed how people at home can make their own hand sanitiser in a sauce bottle.</p> <p>“Now it [the sanitiser] has to be alcoholic based and it needs to be a minimum of 60 per cent,” he said in the video.</p> <p>“The alcohols that I see recommended are like isopropyl and also ethanol, but methylated spirits is actually 95 per cent ethanol.”</p> <p>“The alcohol is quite effective against the virus.”</p> <p>Alcohol is effective at killing microbes such as viruses and bacteria as it inactivates their proteins.</p> <p>In the video, Mr Strickling makes the sanitiser out of aloe vera gel so the hands are protected against the stripping alcohol.</p> <p>“Aloe vera will mix with the alcohol and will form a moisture layer gel to protect your skin from the alcohol,” he said.</p> <p>To make the sanitiser yourself, you will need to peel the green skin off the aloe vera plant and put the clear gel into a blender.</p> <p>He then blends the gel until it turns into a foam before mixing it in the methylated spirits.</p> <p>Mr Strickling adds enough so the final mixture has an alcohol content greater than 60 per cent, which is “necessary to break down the envelope protein wall of the virus and destroy it”.</p> <p>He then transfers the solution into a left-over barbecue sauce bottle that he had previously sterilised.</p> <p>Showcasing the sanitiser on his hands, the teacher says “That feels wonderful, that feels very good.”</p> <p>“Now I’ve got my very own virus stopper,” he said.</p> <p><span>NOTE: While even the World Health Organisation offers recommendations for </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/Guide_to_Local_Production.pdf" target="_blank">home-made handrub formulations</a><span>, we urge our readers to exercise caution as home-made solutions such as Mr Strickling's can potentially damage the skin if the alcohol is diluted incorrectly. </span></p>

Home & Garden

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Why one man's bulk buying hand sanitiser scheme failed

<p>A man in America, Noah Colvin, bought 17,700 bottles of hand sanitiser with the intention of reselling them on Amazon for a profit, but the tech giant has put a stop to that immediately.</p> <p>Amazon has cracked down on pandemic price gouging, which resulted in the company suspending Colvin’s account.</p> <p>He drove over 2,000 kilometres across Tennessee, stocking up on hand sanitiser and sanitary wipes but is now unable to get rid of the excess of goods.</p> <p>He’s not the first account to be suspended, with Amazon removing hundreds of thousands of listing of people trying to price gouge items others are looking for, including respiratory masks.</p> <p>Colvin said to<span> </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/15/technology/matt-colvin-hand-sanitizer-donation.html" target="_blank"><em>The New York Times</em></a><span> </span>that the whole experience has been a “huge amount of whiplash”, as he was able to sell 300 bottles at a markup before the company suspended his account.</p> <p>However, Colvin has since donated all of the supplies on Sunday just as the Tennessee attorney general’s office began investigating him for price gouging.</p> <p>He helped volunteers from a local church load two-thirds of the stockpile of hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes into a box truck that will distribute the goods across the state to those who need them.</p> <p>“I’ve been buying and selling things for 10 years now. There’s been hot product after hot product. But the thing is, there’s always another one on the shelf,” he said.</p> <p>“When we did this trip, I had no idea that these stores wouldn’t be able to get replenished.”</p> <p>After receiving hate mail and death threats after<span> </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/14/technology/coronavirus-purell-wipes-amazon-sellers.html" target="_blank"><em>The New York Times</em></a> published an article about him, Colvin has since expressed remorse for his actions.</p> <p>“It was never my intention to keep necessary medical supplies out of the hands of people who needed them,” he said, crying. “That’s not who I am as a person. And all I’ve been told for the last 48 hours is how much of that person I am.”</p> <p>Tennessee’s price gouging laws are strict and prohibit charging “grossly excessive” prices for a range of items, including medical supplies. People can be fined up to $1,000 per violation, and the attorney general’s office sent Colvin a cease-and-desist letter as well as opening up an investigation.</p> <p>“We will not tolerate price gouging in this time of exceptional need, and we will take aggressive action to stop it,” Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III of Tennessee said in a news release.</p>

Money & Banking

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Public panic as Woolworths runs out of dire supplies ahead of coronavirus warnings

<p>Chemists and grocery store chains across Australia have been experiencing an unusually high demand for hand sanitiser as panic sets in over the coronavirus.</p> <p>The shortage for the product has been photographed in various stores across the country, with people beginning to stock up in a bid to protect themselves from the COVID-19 virus.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Woolworths, Coles, Chemist Warehouse, Priceline and Kmart have all run out of hand sanitiser. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/coronavirusaustralia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#coronavirusaustralia</a></p> — Priscilla Flett (@FlettPriscilla) <a href="https://twitter.com/FlettPriscilla/status/1223427134351237120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Stores like Coles, Woolworths and Chemist Warehouse have been experiencing shortages of antibacterial gel, with the CEO of Australian skin care range MooGoo, Craig Jones, claiming their entire six-month stock of hand sanitiser had been taken from shelves in just a mere four days.</p> <p>“We then made a backup batch and sold out of that too,” said Mr Jones told<span> </span>news.com.au.</p> <p>“The Natural Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel uses an essential oil that kills 99.999 per cent of pathogens in the standard test.”</p> <p>Mr Jones says the healthcare item which typically ranges anywhere from $3 -$5 depending on size and brand, is one of the “key measures from keeping the virus from spreading”.</p> <p>A spokesperson from Coles confirmed the “shortage” of antibacterial handwashes and hand sanitiser products sold in stores  was “due to extremely high customer demand”.</p> <p> “While we are working closely with our suppliers to improve availability, some products may be temporarily out of stock,” the spokesperson said.</p> <p>Woolworths also told news.com.au they had shortages of some products, saying: “We are working very closely with our suppliers to get these products back on shelves as quickly as possible.</p> <p>“We’re sorry for the inconvenience to our customers.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Hand sanitiser aisle at Woolworths. All gawn. <a href="https://t.co/sJrdl4wfes">pic.twitter.com/sJrdl4wfes</a></p> — Ignoble Jim Houghton (@JimRHoughton) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimRHoughton/status/1223484535687368706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Mario Tascone, the Retail Group director for Chemist Warehouse told The Courier Mail <span> </span>that their “store was one of the smart ones”.</p> <p>“We’d rather satisfy 1000 people than satisfy one person who wants to buy 1000 bottles,” he said</p> <p>COVID-19 has now been confirmed in at least 45 countries, and many of these nations have created emergency plans and travel restrictions on the worst-affected places.</p> <p>Australia activated its emergency response plan yesterday amid rising concerns of a potential coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that the number of new cases reported outside China exceeded the number of new cases in China for the first time.</p> <p>On Tuesday, 411 new cases of the COVID-19 disease were reported in China, while 427 were reported outside the country, WHO said.</p>

News

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Why you need to worry about hand sanitiser

<p><strong>How safe are hand sanitisers?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You’ve heard the advice since you were young – wash your hands to avoid getting sick. And now hand sanitiser has swooped in as a way to keep our hands clean, even when we’re on the go. It comes in appealing scents, fun squeeze bottles, and it’s often marketed toward kids. But is hand sanitiser safe to use? Here’s what you need to know.</span></p> <p><strong>Are all hand sanitisers the same?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many people might not know that not all hand sanitisers are created equal. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), it’s important to use a hand sanitiser that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. This type of sanitiser not only is more effective at killing germs, but non-alcohol based sanitisers can actually be harmful and can cause germs to develop resistance to sanitising.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s especially important to avoid hand sanitisers that contain triclosan, a synthetic ingredient added to many antibacterial products. The FDA warns that “high doses of triclosan is associated with a decrease in the levels of some thyroid hormones [and may contribute to] making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.”</span></p> <p><strong>Does hand sanitiser prevent illness?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hand sanitiser can’t rid your hands of bacteria if you’re not using it correctly. Remember to use the proper amount of sanitiser, to rub it over all surfaces of your hands, and to let the product dry. Also, don’t wipe your hands or rinse them after applying. When used correctly, alcohol-based hand sanitisers kill at least 99.9 percent of viruses, fungi and bacteria. So after you touch that public stair railing or shopping cart handle, using hand sanitiser can help you avoid a cold or flu virus. But keep in mind, people often pick up a virus after inhaling droplets in the air, and unfortunately, hand sanitiser can’t help you with that.</span></p> <p><strong>Which is more effective – a hand sanitiser or soap and water?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although that tingling feeling of a hand sanitiser may feel like the best and most effective way to cleanse your hands, the reality is, nothing beats plain old soap and water. The CDC says the best way to prevent the spread of infections and decrease the risk of getting sick is to regularly wash your hands, whenever possible. Try to only use hand sanitiser if soap and water are not accessible, like when you’re in the car, when you’re shopping or at a movie or concert. Also remember that hand sanitisers should not be used after handling chemicals or when hands are visibly dirty, in those cases use soap and water.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Written by Erica Young. This article first appeared in </span><a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/tips/why-you-need-to-worry-about-hand-sanitiser?slide=all"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reader’s Digest</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, here’s our best subscription offer.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /></p>

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The one time to avoid hand sanitiser

<p>Do you ever use a squirt of hand sanitiser before you order your coffee or lunch at a café? If your hands have been sanitised just before you take your receipt, you could be exposing yourself to huge amounts of the chemical BPA.</p><p>Yes, the same chemical that we all look to avoid in our plastics (you can get BPA free drink bottles, ice cube trays and Tupperware now) is in the paper receipts that you handle every day.</p><p>Hand sanitiser is designed to break through the protective outer layers of your skin in order to be effective. But this means that your hands are also left exposed to chemicals, such as BPA.&nbsp;</p><p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/news/news/2015/03/microwave-safe-plastic/" target="_blank">Related link: Is it safe to microwave plastic containers?</a></span></strong></em></p><p>A study published in the Journal <em>PLoS One</em> showed that people who held a paper receipt after using some hand sanitiser had 185 times more BPA chemical on their hands, compared to people who held receipts but hadn’t used sanitiser. When their blood and urine samples were compared, the hand sanitiser users had much high levels of BPA in their systems.</p><p>If you’re wondering why we should be worried about exposure to BPA, it can actually increase the changes of obesity, heart disease and diabetes.</p><p>So, what is the best idea to avoid exposing yourself to the harsh chemical? Say “no thanks” to the receipt. If you happen to work in a shop that requires you to deal with receipts on a regular basis, it would be advisable to wear gloves.</p><p><strong>Related links:</strong></p><p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/at-home/2015/03/the-right-way-to-shower/" target="_blank">Showering: are you doing it wrong?</a></span>&nbsp;</strong></em></p><p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/at-home/2015/01/dirty-home-items/" target="_blank">5 surprisingly dirty things in your house?</a></span></strong></em></p><p><em><strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/at-home/2014/12/rid-household-smells/" target="_blank">How to banish 8 common household smells</a></span></strong></em></p>

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