Patient/caregiver was educated on how to use hand sanitizer for COVID-19 as follows:
- CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water, as needed, as it reduces the various disease causing infectious organisms on the hands.
- If soap and water are not readily available, using hand sanitizers containing at least 60% of alcohol in them can be helpful to control the infectious organisms on the hands.
- Apply the chosen hand sanitizer by rubbing it over all surfaces of hands and fingers, including the skin area between the fingers. Continue rubbing the gel until the hands are dry. Rinsing the hands or wiping them with towel before the hands are dry can result in wasting of sanitizer and compromised therapeutic benefit.
- Avoid rubbing the eyes with the hands/fingers still wet with the hand sanitizer. The alcohol content in the hand sanitizer can irritate the eyes, leading to discomfort and redness of eyes.
- Keep the hand sanitizer out of reach for children, demented individuals, and household pets. Accidental consumption of hand sanitizer carries significant risk of alcohol intoxication, especially in young children. Seek emergency medical help in the event of consumption of hand sanitizer by any household members.
- Do not expose alcohol-based hand sanitizer to extremes of temperature, such as, the heat of peak summer. Exposure of alcohol-based hand sanitizer to high temperatures can increase the risk for fire accidents & injuries. Avoid leaving the hand sanitizer container in the kitchen or parked vehicles, which can expose the sanitizer to the high temperature, leading to fire accidents & injuries.
