Hand Sanitizer Can Poison Your Children

by Jennifer Jordan (Subscribe to Jennifer Jordan's posts) Jun 26th 2007 11:47AM

Categories: Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Safety, Development, Education, Gadgets & Tech

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I have something to admit to all of you. I am a germophobe. I'm one of those people -- you know, the ones who open doors using a paper towel on the doorknob and who flush toilets with their feet (closed-toe shoes, of course). I get the skeevies just thinking about what kinds of things we drag into our apartment on our feet after traipsing around the streets of New York City all day. Ew. So you'd think I was a big fan of all things anti-bacterial, including hand sanitizers.

Actually, I am not a fan of either. In fact, I would go so far as to say I eschew use of such things unless completely necessary. Case in point -- there is a bottle of hand sanitizer in my diaper bag for times when I need to change a diaper and can't get to soap and water.

Today a concerned reader submitted a point of interest to use regarding hand sanitizer being hazardous to children if ingested. Despite most stories proven false on the Snopes Web site, this story, found here, turned out to be true. Apparently a little girl named Halle Butler ingested enough of the hand sanitizer given to her at school to be come seriously ill. She was taken to the emergency room, and, thank goodness, recovered.

Hand sanitizer is mostly alcohol, so she and another little girl mentioned in another story who ate it after being given a dollop of it by a teacher got alcohol poisoning from ingesting the hand sanitizer.

Although both stories contain incorrect or dubious information such as Halle's blood alcohol level being at 85%, or that someone found "on the Internet" that ingesting three squirts of hand sanitizer can prove fatal to a toddler, the thought is still the same: Kids WILL put anything into their mouths. They will taste it and they will swallow it.

I remember when I was a kid my mom rushed me to the ER because she thought I'd drunk some bleach. I don't know why she thought that and although I do recall hitting the ER and being given a giant glass of milk (???) I don't recall feeling ill.

According to the story, the mother involved wanted hand sanitizer banned from pretty much everywhere. My response to that, if it's even true, is that if we're not going to ban things that we know for sure kill people, like peanuts and other food allergens, then how can we ban something like hand sanitizer?

I will tell you one thing, though. I am going to watch out even more for what my son puts into his mouth. I recently took a CPR and child safety class and you just wouldn't believe the things I was told could happen with everyday household items. The one that got me the most was children "testing" light sockets with their tongues. We all think kids will go poking things into light sockets, but what actually occurs is licking of the socket. Ew.

Children explore the world with their mouths as much as with their hands and eyes. If something smells yummy, as a hand sanitizer just might these days, then I can only imagine how long it is before a child tries to eat it.

I don't know if we need to go so far as to ban hand sanitizer, especially in schools where germs really do find their way around to every kid it seems. Perhaps just a note of caution to the teachers about not giving children too much or watching them rub it into their hands until it evaporates.

What's your take on this?

Thanks to Ann Adams for the tip!

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Comments (95)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

suzanne 1-29-2008 @ 7:41PM

The doctor's way of washing hands in public:
Go to sink, turn on water with your elbow, wash hands, turn off water with arm/elbow, dry hands with towel, use same towel to open door if needed, throw out towel. This can be done almost anywhere. As for alcohol-based hand sanitizer, get your kids to shake their hands, or rub it into their hands until dry.

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Pedro 7-07-2009 @ 5:29PM

You know, it is a miracle that I and other members of my generation survived without hand sanitizers. I rarely washed my hands, except after using the bathroom and before eating. I used to play in the dirt, the sand. I occasionally got gasoline on my hands when mowing the lawn. As a small child, I and others ran behind mosquito spray trucks (DDT!!!) just for the fun of it. I used to ride a bike and roller skates, without a helmet!

Despite my mother's constant vigilance, I managed to get away from time to time and get into some trouble. I also have a very strong immune system and rarely get sick. I have almost no allergies to anything.

Coincidence? I work in mental health field and have to see a lot of people daily. I use the goop in the bottle but it dries my hands out. We have a very weak population. I suspect we would really have trouble in a pandemic, not because of touching doorknobs and flushing toilets manually, but due to the constant "sanitizing". This recent recall, I believe, proves my point. Now the hand sanitizer has disease-causing germ inside of it. What the. . . . ?

Ethel 6-26-2007 @ 12:06PM

Bloody. Hand sanitizer is a God-send and should be treated as such, and like jello-shots, not something kids should play with! When there is no water that is potable to wash with, or just no water I want everyone who has to change a diaper or has their kid hand them a cat poop (or as we call them, crunchy kitty litter treats) to use hand sanitizer before they go on to open doors, touch grocery carts or the fruit and vegetables in the store, before they touch playground equipment or me. Used with common sense it is more likely to save lives and prevent illness in ourselves and others by eliminated exposure to germs. Like everything else in the world, it needs to be used judiciously. Even water is a poison if you drink too much!

Ally 6-26-2007 @ 12:41PM

I just have to throw my 2 cents in and say that it's one of my pet peeves that people flush public toilets with their feet (shoes). Using your hand and then washing it is completely sanitary, but the main thing is that the FLOOR of a public bathroom has proven to be, by far, the most germ-y place, over the handle or the toilet seat even. By using your foot, your condemning the next user, who may use their hands to flush, to touch the contents of the floor. (But then that user should be washing their hands also!:) ) OK Rant over.

Jenn 6-26-2007 @ 1:00PM

Ethel, I'm right there with you. This was going around on another board that I am a member of, and people were panicking and claiming "OMG, I'll never use hand sanitizer again!!!!"

I mean come on. If you didn't know that hand sanitizer contains a high level of alcohol, than you've never used the stuff. It REEKS. Would you pour vodka in your kid's hands and leave them alone? So why would you do it with hand sanitizer?

Also, it should be noted that if used properly (rub your hands together until the stuff evaporates), you could lick your hands until the cows come home. The little girl in the mail ATE THE GEL. A teacher squirted it on her hands, and then walked away. The kid was 3. I would blame the teacher for not properly supervising, rather than the product.

There is a reason why the product has "Keep away from children" on it. Just keep it out of their reach and allow them to use it when supervised, just like anything else.

And yes, Jennifer, the things that toddlers will put in their mouths just astonishes me. I'm told when I was a kid, I ate the deodorizing tablet out of the diaper pail! Also some mothballs.

I notice these things haven't been banned!

Jan Bay 6-26-2007 @ 1:37PM

Another situation where some parental monitoring is necessary. I don't leave hand sanitizer on the sink alongside the hand soap because I was afraid that Cass or one of the kids might use it and rub their eyes (or squirt it in other kids' eyes, you know that stuff happens!). I never considered that one might take a swig, as the OP said, it stinks of alcohol!

Jan from www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com

Uly 6-26-2007 @ 2:47PM

I think that it's healthier for children to get sick occasionally than to always be "sanitized". Living germ-free not only increases the odds you'll just get sick later, it also increases the risk you'll develop allergies or auto-immune disorders. And all these antibacterial products, they kill beneficial bacteria along with bad ones, and cause the surviving baddies to reproduce more quickly, helping to evolve new superbugs.

anderson_michelle_lee 6-26-2007 @ 2:16PM

I am a fan of hand sanitizer. I think that if more people used it, then less illness would occur. I however, hope that this does not ever happen to me or someone I know. My hand sanitizer is on the sink, i want them to be able to get to it. But I have seen my three year old lick lotion off of his hand before, so I think I might reconsider. the bathroom is not a place to play, and if you can't be with your kids to make sure they are not playing with things, leave the hand sanitizer at the kitchen sink, and get them when they run by.

Crystal 6-26-2007 @ 2:57PM

Check out CLEANWELLTODAY.com
Its a new hand sanitizer that is perfectly safe. Its uses Ingenium. Which is something that kills germs, without alcohol...I was part of a focus group when it came out, and I really fell in love with it.
The smell takes a bit to get used to. My husband says is smells like my baked chicken. One of the main ingredients is Thyme Oil. lol I really like the smell now, I think its refreshing.
As of right now that only place you can get it is on their website...(I think)
Check it out.

Eva 6-26-2007 @ 3:43PM

I never use those hand sanitizers. They totally creep me out. What's wrong with washing your hands? Also, I agree with Uly's post.

Ann Adams 6-26-2007 @ 5:30PM

I agree with Uly pretty much although hand sanitizers certainly have their place.

Then again, I have to remember I'm three generations removed from current practice.

I read the email my friend sent me 2 or 3 times before I submitted it. I didn't want to appear alarmist over nothing and I know that chances are that anyone who reads a parenting blog uses good sense. On the other hand, if a caution saves even one child from becoming ill, it's worth mentioning.

Stephanie Martin 6-29-2007 @ 6:46AM

I am a big fan of hand sanitizers. I have three children and its nice to know that a little dab of the sanitizer will kill the nasty germs that they pick up. I even use the sanitizer on my two year old son. In fact, he is the one that I feel benefits the most from it. I put it on my hands first and rub it in just enough for it to begin to evaporate and then I rub his hands. By the time I let go of his hands, they are dry and clean. I keep the bottle of sanitizer on top of the refrigerator.

Julie 6-29-2007 @ 7:19AM

I have taught P-K in public school for 6 years and I have not had any problems with a child eating hand sanitizer, but on the other hand, could we ban buggers?

Pattie VanTuyl 6-29-2007 @ 7:39AM

Late in the spring when we last bought handsanitizer, there were many fruit scented ones on the shelf. Just for those few instances when I have to use it to clean the small hand of a young one, I think I shall stick with the clear, regular scented and reduce the temptation of pink strawberry scented one. Those can stay on the store shelf.

roark 6-29-2007 @ 10:33AM

ditto ditto as to ulys very informed comments. in addition i understand that many anti-bacterial hand soaps and dish detergents have an ingredient that reacts to one or more chemicals in treated tap water to form dioxsins(sp?)one of the most cancer causing agents created by man. maybe more correct to say created by relitively few men in a few corperations,having very negitive impact on massive numbers of people and other life forms on our planet.

Faith 6-29-2007 @ 8:15AM

I'm an RN and I won't use them. In order for these sanitizers to work, they have to be at least 70% Rubbing alcohol.... not the drinking kind, people! Though your kid may not get drunk or even ill directly from normal use, the extreme drying affect, which ultimately causes more problems than the germs ---- that wash away with soap and water! Why do we keep doing things without thinking of the consequences? Dry cracked hands are then open for really scary things like flesh eating bacteria that can get into your bloodstream from one of those cracks. Wake up, America!

Ann 6-29-2007 @ 8:11AM

Okay, I use those hand sanitizers all of the time. I have to. I have a compromised immune system from years of cancer and cancer therapy (chemo, radiation) and I am a BIG FAN of all things that protect me and my body from everybody else's germ warfare - especailly kids. OMG they are like little germ ATM'S. So, instead of blasting the product - how about blaming the kid watcher? I know not to let kids alone with any product that might harm them - anything that contains alcohol included. Don't pluck a dollop on their tiny plam and walk away without showing them how to rub their hands together in washing simulation, to the point of absolute evaporation of the cleaner. And as a former foot flusher, I will take your very good suggestions and apologize - I will flush with my hands from now on! I promise!

shirley coln 6-29-2007 @ 8:16AM

I agree we should not remove a much-needed product because of such a report. A warning on the label, careful use are what we need. I use purell on my grandbabies' hands but supervise the use. For the very small babes, I rub the product into the hands myself.

Anna 6-29-2007 @ 8:23PM

I work as a teachers assistant, and we use the hand sanitizer just after playground time, because the kids in the hall is so overwhelming for our 3 & 4 yr olds that its easier for us to get them to the cafeteria and drop a dot or 2 of the sanitizer for them to wash. The teacher and I model for them how we rub till it disappears'all gone' then we eat... we have told them that if they put it in there mouths they may have to go to the hospital for shots... so they are very good and proud hand rubbers... hehe