This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com
Just a quick post today as I wanted to remind you to check the hand sanitizer you are using as well as your emergency supply, in case you happened to purchase certain hand sanitizers that have been found to be toxic.
Why are they toxic?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that these hand sanitizers contain methanol, also known as wood alcohol, which is known to be toxic when ingested or absorbed through the skin. Methanol is NOT an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers. Think about it: if you were to apply these hand sanitizers thinking you were killing germs, you are actually absorbing poison!
List of hand sanitizers
These products were manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico:
- All-Clean Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-002-01)
- Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-007-01)
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-008-04)
- Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-006-01)
- The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-010-10)
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-005-03)
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-009-01)
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-003-01)
- Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-001-01)
What are the symptoms of methanol poisoning?
According to the FDA, these are the symptoms of substantial methanol exposure: nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.
If you have been exposed to hand sanitizer that has methanol, it is critical to seek immediate treatment to potentially reverse the toxic effects of methanol poisoning.
Everyone who uses them are at risk, but especially children, adolescents or adults who accidentally drink these products s an alcohol (ethanol) substitute.
What should you do with the products if you have them?
If you have any of these products in your home, stop using them right away! Throw them out in hazardous waste containers. Do not flush them down the drain.
Washing your hands is best
Don’t forget that washing your hands still beats using hand sanitizer. Why? According to the Centers for Disease Control, multiple studies show that hand sanitizers work well in hospital situations, but not as well in community settings where hands tend to be soiled or greasy. When performing activities such as handling food, playing sports, gardening, camping, or fishing, hand washing is still the ideal way to get rid of dirt and germs. In addition, hand washing can clean off harmful chemicals such as pesticides while hand sanitizer may not.
If you do choose a hand sanitizer, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends you choose an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
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About the author:
Bernie Carr is the founder of Apartment Prepper. She has written several books including the best-selling Prepper’s Pocket Guide, Jake and Miller’s Big Adventure, The Penny-Pinching Prepper and How to Prepare for Most Emergencies on a $50 a Month Budget. Her work appears in sites such as the Allstate Blog and Clark.com, as well as print magazines such as Backwoods Survival Guide and Prepper Survival Guide. She has been featured in national publications such as Fox Business and Popular Mechanics. Learn more about Bernie here.
