Hand Sanitizer Can Poison Your Children

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.

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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

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I am a teacher and I have to say that I love Germ-X. If one child gets sick this can lead to half the class or more getting sick. Though Germ-X may not prevent all children from getting sick, it certainly helps cut down on absences. They can't learn if they miss too much school and I can't teach if half my class is out. I use hand-sanitizer daily for myself. After all, I don't want to get sick. There are a lot of germs and bacteria at school. I will continue to use hand sanitizer in my class for my students and myself.

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I have hand sanitizer on my counter, we live in a certified home where we take care of people who can't take care of themselves. Our whole family including my grandchildren ages 3&4 and staff use this product even after handwashing. No posonings have occured and neither have any colds or flu in the past 3 years. Amazing I'd like to add we always keep our eye on the little ones being a mother of 6 kids and 3 grandkids they will do anything if you turn your head for a second. I don't see this product being banned but if it does I'm stocking up first.Have a germ free day.

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I agree that supervision is the issue here, not the sanitizer.

Incidentally, I was told that when I was a toddler at a church supper where my mom was helping out, I put an ant trap in my mouth that I'd probably found behind a refrigerator or something. My mother initially thought someone had given me a cookie because I had something brown dripping from the corner of my mouth! Needless to say I was rushed to the ER, and obviously I was fine. Thank God I can't remember that incident! Yuck! (Though that deoderizing tablet or mothballs that Jenn ate couldn't have been much tastier!)

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I have children and have no problem with their using hand sanitizer. Unfortunately there are new and potentially dangerous/deadly strands of germs out there. As a substitute teacher, sometimes for special needs children, I see A LOT of ways that germs are spread and it is scary. What I have seen and apply my self, is having the sanitizer on a high shelf near the front door. Each of the younger children are given a squirt by me or a teacher as they are standing in line as the prepare to leave for say, lunch. These children rub the sanitizer in to their palms right away as we watch. We also make a point of working with these children with regards to washing up after the most obvious use of the restroom and when they come in from the playground. Yes, children do "test" everything one way or another and none of us can be there every second. But just like we should be doing with anything and everything else out there, it is up to the adults to teach these children about safety and child proofing the home and class rooms. Unfortunately we can't take all the hazards in life away and nor should we. Children need to learn safety guidelines because there will always be hazards in their lives. But it is up to us to take the time to do just that.

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just another thing that people will want banned because they cant watch their kids...

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I am an RN also but I use hand sanitizers constantly. In my practice, I have 15 patients all together in the dialysis treatment room. I am continually going from patient to patient, machine to machine, to assess and give medications. I use a large amount and wipe off my stethoscope with it between patients too. I used to clean the stethoscope with an alcohol prep pad between patients but this is alcohol too and I feel it is doing a good job and is quicker. I don't have skin problems and I probably use it between 50 - 100 times a shift.

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It is the same thing as toothpaste. It says on there keep out of reach of children and a poison hotline is listed if more than used for brushing is swallowed. (I read that mixing even small amounts of toothpaste with water that contains chlorine turns it into chloryform due to an antibacterial ingredient.)I believe most parents supervise toddlers while they brush and apply appropriate amounts on their child's toothbrush. We would help our child if they wanted to wash their hands so they do not fall from a stepstool or sitting by the kitchen sink. Why wouldnt we supervise them with hand sanitizers also. All chemicals should be considered dangerous to children with or without the warnings. The next thing though to consider is the tweens and teens who decide to abuse these products as they do chough syrups and inhalants. I'm sure once the word is out, there will be an increse of ER visits from these age groups due to them abusing this potentially deadly product.

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My neices and nephew go to a school where they have placed hand sanitizer everywhere- in the bathrooms and in the cafeteria. The kids are lined up before getting in the lunch line to take a "squirt" before they handle the food. After about a month of doing this, they all came back with really dry and chapped hands (sensitive skin). So my sister told them to stop using it- but that's just such a horrible catch 22 for a middleschooler to handle. Where they make such a parade out of this new sacred event- to have their peers notice that they are purposely not sanitizing before lunch can be a big blow to their middleschool reputations- I suppose they can pretend like they did it and no one would notice- but jeez- it's causing more greif than it's worth!

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Come on, its just like anything else. Yes, kids will put things in there mouth but they are capable of learning. I have a daughter who is Asthmatic. Sanitizer and anti-bacterial soap is what gets us through the school year. She uses it at school to clean her hands after class. Do you know what the person who sat at that desk right before you has??? No, you don't. She was very susceptible to cold germs which sent her into severe attacks. Flu?? even worse. She also, has not had a problem telling others what they should be taught at home, cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. We have had far less germs for the whole family by stopping the spread from school. She can't take the flu shot due to other allergies. My son also uses it and he hasn't been sick. They've been using it since they were young. My daughter is a Kindergarten teacher and she will be using it in her classroom, too. Its all about "teaching your kids".

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Hand Sanitizer is a GODSEND. I am a germophobe and much like the author do not touch door-knobs, toilet anything in public (bleach myown at home before I will use it) and started the cart washng at the supermarket. My children, right down to my 2 year old ask for the samitizer and know exactly what to do with it-BECAUSE I SHOWED THEM AND WATCHED THEM. We use it every 15-20 minutes at playgrounds or anywhere public where they touch alot. There will be NO BAN of it just because some parents don't have the sense to watch their kids. I have at least 4 bottles in my ome, 2 in the van, 2 in the diaper bag and my children have never ingested it. Geeeez, watch your kids.

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I am a home child care provider and have just been forbidden to use hand sanitizer at all even on field trips which was the only time I used it with the kids. BUT I did use it on MY hands after washing them after changing a diaper!!!! I am not a germaphob. I am of the opinion that a little dirt and germs are good for our immune systems. I have always actually rubbed the sanitizer in the hands of the children instead of giving it to them and letting them do it by themselves. Yet again one more thing that parents CAN do with their kids and child care providers can't!!! We train to care for children and pay the price for parental mistakes. One day someone is gonna take all of the crazy things parents do and come up with mandatory parental classes for each age!!!

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One of the neglected side affects of hand sanitizers is that they kill Good bacteria, which we need on/in our bodies, as well as bad. Overall in most cases it is harmless. Soap and water will wash these things away very effectively. We need to keep in mind that this craze is mainly created by marketing, Marketing,MARKETING. It is NOT a must have product.

As far as wipes are concerned, it is desirable to use the ones with natural ingredients. They can now be found in major food and drug stores. Do your homework to find the best solutions for you and your family. We all need to stop being so influenced by profit driven companies. Common sense is the best preventative!

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As a fellow germophobe, regarding the flushing with shoes comment, a very small piece of toilet paper is also a good way to flush toilet without using your dirty shoes or your hands. I still follow up with hand washing and sanitizer too but it is a good alternative!

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I've used hand sanitizer for years. As a teacher, I used it in my classroom. When used correctly, it'
s great for preventing the spread of germs. I watched my children rub it in, therefore, they don't have the opportunity to ingest it. Teach them! Teach them that this is NOT to eat or taste. I havne't gotten sick in a very long time and I firmly believe it's from washing my hands regularly and using hand sanitizer. By the way, I've also noticed the frequency of passing on colds and other viruses in our church nursery has greatly diminished since we've been using the sanitizer. :-)

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I agree with the nurse who posted. It is dangerous to dry out your hands with this stuff - you're just going to make it possible to catch something worse. And why do people have this stuff by their sinks? It's supposed to be used only if soap and water AREN'T available. If your kids are in the bathroom, have them wash their hands!!

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I'm an admitted germophobe, and a fan of hand sanitizers. Having had chemotherapy which destroys my immune system for 2 weeks afterward, sanitizers are the ONLY way I can visit a grocer and touch a cart. For kids, AS WITH EVERYTHING WE DO WITH KIDS, SUPERVISION (REPEAT) SUPERVISION IS THE KEY! I make my grandson use it, rub it til it evaporates. Many things kids swallow will make them ill, for goodness' sake! Of course, swallowing ALCOHOL OR ANY MEDICATION NOT DESIGNED FOR INGESTING WILL MAKE A KID SICK (NO-BRAINER)!!

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I just blogged about this recently:

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Hand Sanitizer Warnings (RANT)
Category: Blogging


Disclaimer:
ALL content in this blog is based on my own opinions, common sense and thoughts and is protected by my first amendment rights. Author not responsible for hurt feelings. Read at your own risk. Not redeemable for cash. Participating locations only. Morons and Phucktards need not apply. Do not remove label by penalty of law.

This is past ridiculous. I recently received an email entitled, "Beware of Hand Sanitizers." It was written by Lacey Butler in regard to her 4 year old daughter allegedly licking hand sanitizer off of her hands in school. There are two such articles written that you can view on this link: http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/sanitizer.asp

I have to rant on about this because I think that we really just need to include a surgeon general's warning on every damn thing that states: "If you are a moron...do not use this product." Oh, come on!!! For the love of Pete, these women go on and on about how shocked they were that these kids had alcohol related issues from licking the damn hand sanitizer. One word..."DUH!" Honestly...it is hand SANITIZER..what did you think it was made of? Cotton Candy?????? Of course the product is potentially dangerous and any moron that does not keep dangerous products out of the reach of children should have DCFS called and then have their knees sewn shut as a permanent form of birth control. I couldn't believe my eyes when I read these two articles. I wanted to hunt these women involved and thrash them with a leather belt encrusted with rusty nails. Someone should pull their pissflaps over their heads since they are not using them anyway. Why is it that we have to have warnings that coffee is HOT and that SANITIZERS contain alcohol? What on earth happened to common sense and using your own brain? Why aren't these people watching their snotty little hand lickers? When I read what Lacey Butler said about her daughter having ended-up with an "85% blood alcohol level," I knew the answer...MORON!!!!! The lethal dose of alcohol for an ADULT is .40. While snopes.com caught this as being inaccurate...it just enlightened me that Mrs. Butler, in my humble yet trollish opinion, seems to be a phucktard herself, and I wonder if perhaps her little hand licking, mouth breathing rug rat really just got into her scotch before school. I can just see her thought process ticking and the impending lawsuit against this poor teacher who was probably trying to keep the ankle biter (probably a perpetual nose picker) clean. Besides that, in the case of the Butler Buttheads, I seriously doubt that a dab of hand sanitizer, which dries rather quickly, caused anyone to be, and I quote, " severely lethargic
and incoherent" and "couldn't hold her own head up and when he looked into her eyes, she couldn't focus them," hmmmmmmmmmm..sounds suspicious to me. Most alcohol poisonings on this level come from ingestion of products rather than a small licking dose. All I know is that we really need to begin a moron patrol. Mrs. Butler...I hereby dub thee the fearless leader of the Morons and Phucktards. You make me want to stick forks in my eyes.

Ta Ta Cupcakes

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And, it's used in hospitals! Sure it's drying to the hands, but avoids spread of germs. What about those venues for entertainment with porta-toilets? Don't you WANT hand sanitizers there? I've noticed my family has less colds and stomach viruses when using hand sanitizers. Washing hands is preferred -- but many people do not wash hands SADLY. (Watch people in public restrooms leave without washing hands (e.coli anyone?) So, that alone requires that I use hand sanitizers. They have a place in our unclean environment......

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