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Posted: Thursday, 05 November 2009 9:46AM
Sanitizer better than soap and here's why
John Cody Reporting
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CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Makers of hand sanitizer have seen sales leap in this era of H1N1 and other germ concerns. An infectious disease specialist at the University of Chicago says the stuff actually works.
Dr. Emily Mawdsley says studies show that the alcohol gel is actually a more effective disease blocking agent than soap and water in most real life situations because most people don't do hand washing properly.
She says effective hand washing requires 30 seconds of serious scrubbing of the hands, the fingers and tips, and between the fingers with very warm water.
She says most people just don't do all they should with soap and water, so an application of hand gel worked into the hands and the fingers for 20 to 30 seconds is more effective than what people do in real life which is rinse for a couple of seconds and shake dry or rinse and wipe on a towel.
Here's the proper way to wash hands, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control:
1. Hands should be washed using soap and warm, running water
2. Hands should be rubbed vigorously during washing for at least 20 seconds with special attention paid to the backs of the hands, wrists, between the fingers and under the fingernails
3. Hands should be rinsed well while leaving the water running
4. With the water running, hands should be dried with a single-use towel
5. Turn off the water using a paper towel, covering washed hands to prevent re-contamination.
Hands should be washed after the following activities:
* After touching bare human body parts other than clean hands and clean, exposed portions of arms
* After using the toilet
* After coughing, sneezing, using a handkerchief or disposable tissue, using tobacco, eating or drinking
* After handling soiled equipment or utensils
* After food preparation, as often as necessary to remove soil and contamination and to prevent cross-contamination when changing tasks
* After switching between working with raw food and working with ready-to-eat food
* After engaging in other activities that contaminate the hands.
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