FDA releases new guidelines for hand sanitizer

Transcript

Demand for hand sanitizer is still on the rise especially as kids return to school.

But some hand sanitizers could actually be dangerous.

In your local grocery store or pharmacy you might be seeing some unfamiliar brands of hand sanitizer.

That’s because high demand during the pandemic prompted the FDA to allow distilleries and other makers of alcohol products to jump into the market and start making sanitizer.

But now there is a new warning from experts: check the label.

A number of hand sanitizers include methanol.

Methanol is a dangerous type of alcohol often using products like antifreeze.

Experts say high concentrations of methanol can cause seizures and even death.

In fact experts say methanol should not be in hand sanitizer because even taken in through the skin it’s dangerous.

So what should be in hand sanitizer?

Ethyl alcohol.

Doctor say each bottle of sanitizer should say it has at least 60% concentration of ethyl alcohol.

Anything below 60% may not be effective.

What’s also not effective?

Using only hand sanitizer dozens of times a day.

Hand sanitizer is not a substitute for handwashing.

Experts say it is important to wash your hands with warm water and soap between uses of sanitizer.

But if you have to use hand sanitizer, experts say use a generous amount and don’t just apply to your palms as many people do.

You want to make sure you’re covering both sides of your hands, into your finger joints and around your wrist similar to the soap and water handwashing procedure.

Posted – 8.14.20