Hand Sanitizer

[Thisoldbird]

I'm aware children are being encouraged to wash their hands many times during the school day I.e. going into school break times lunch times..I reading many of the children's hands are red raw from the sanitizer..my own relatives included.
This ritual is rightly going to go on a long time with this virus spreading.

Anyone have suggestions what else they could do to help these poor kiddies?

[Buenchico]

Most schools will simply have soap dispensers, rather than sanitizing gel. Unless they've got allergies to the 'soap' (which is probably actually a mild detergent, rather than traditional soap), it would seem hard to understand why anyone would end up with sore hands simply through using it too often.

If it does cause a problem, then providing the child with a small bar of 'Simple' soap (available from both pharmacies and supermarkets), placed inside a suitable container (such as those little plastic boxes which are specifically made for the job and which are, again, widely available) should solve the problem.

Using sanitising gel (which is mainly isopropyl alcohol, that's not kind to sensitive skin) doesn't do anything that washing with soap and water doesn't. Indeed, since washing with soap and water removes both the bacteria and any potentially harardous waste products from those bacteria, whereas sanitising gel only kills the bacteria (but doesn't alway remove the toxic waste products that those bacteria have already produced), there's a reasonable argument for washing with soap and water being better than using sanitising gel.

[Buenchico]

I forgot the link!

https://www.boots.com/simple-pure-soap-bar-for-sensitive-skin-4-x-125g-10085766

[woofgang]

I used to work in the NHS and know the handwashing/sanitising thing off by heart. As Buenchico says, if they are washing their hands, then unless they are sensitive to the soap, there should be no soreness. Same with sanitiser. Yes the alcohol is not good for skin but sanitisers are blended with protective moisturiser in which again shouldn't irritate. From my experience at work, I am guessing that the problem is not being caused by the handwashing but by poor drying practice. Continually having wet or damp hands, especially in cold weather will make hands sore.
so questions.....are they soap and water washing or using hand sanitiser?
If washing is anybody making sure that hands are really dry afterwards?
If using sanitiser, is too much being used and again are the hands being rubbed together until the sanitiser is dry?

[woofgang]

PS yes. proper handwashing, WITH proper drying is much better than sanitiser use. Sanitiser should only be used when the hands appear clean and there is no access to soap and water.

[calmck]

I quite agree soap and water is better than the gels. I suggested on another thread that a soap solution could easily be made up and put in a cleaned, empty gel bottle.
PS Here in Portugal I will have the grandkids home till March 27. Schools closed and they all have work with them and more will be sent by email next week. All libraries, pools and council sporting activities cancelled too.

[Thisoldbird]

Thanks for the link and replies.
I did ask are they drying their hands thoroughly. These are 5 and 6 yr olds so I'm guessing they need to be told more than once make sure you dry them thoroughly.
I understood it was a sanitizer I'll check that out. Thanks

[Buenchico]

If the school wants to make the message fun (as well as more meaningful to young minds), perhaps they should give this a go . . .
https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/hygiene-education-glitter-primary-school-1-6557318

[woofgang]

Thisoldbird, at 5 and 6, given the increased handwashing frequency, I think it should still be being checked!

[woofgang]

calmck, the reason that soap and water is better is because you get mechanical debris removal and this is then rinsed away. Using dilute liquid soap as a sanitiser replacement won't help at all. There is no virucidal action and no mechanical debris removal. Basically, even if you dry your hands afterwards, with no rinse you are just moving the dirt to a different place on your hands.

[Thisoldbird]

Apparently they wash with soap and water..then apply a gel.

I am pretty sure they aren't drying them properly.

As a lot of the Mums are remarking on it this evening, my bet is teacher will be made aware and instill a better drying habit to the children.

[woofgang]

They should be doing one or the other but not both. If there are facilities for proper handwashing then gel should not be used. Gel on damp hands is a recipe for soreness.

[Buenchico]

Hand sanitiser doesn't usually cause soreness because the natural oils in a person's skin protect it from absorbing much of the alcohol content. However if you wash your hands with soap and water first, that removes much of the natural oils, leaving the skin more vulnerable to penetration by the alcohol (resulting in soreness).

Using hand sanitiser straight after using soap and water is madness, particularly when the skin involved is that of young children!

As Woofgang says, it should be 'one or the other', and most definitely not both!

Surgeons need exceptionally clean hands but, even though they go through a lengthy procedure and then don gloves, they still only use soap and water.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/hand-hygiene/how-perform-surgical-hand-scrubs
'Aseptic' is always better than 'antiseptic'!

[Old_Geezer]

Maybe it's not the soap, maybe it's the 5 minutes scrubbing with the nail brush ;-)

Is there not a soothing cream from the chemist one could apply afterwards ? I suspect one needs to know why the hands are reacting thus to know how to counter it.

[Old_Geezer]

Ah I see woofie might have spotted an issue.

[Theland]

E45 lotion.