Coronavirus. Hand sanitizer? For a virus?

[Coco51]

We are being told to wash our hands frequently or use hand gel to reduce the risk of catching COVID19. I can believe in the protection afforded by washing, but surely hand gel is antibacterial? Is that any use against a virus? We are often told by doctors that antibiotics don't work against viruses.

[waveylines]

The key ingredient in the sanitizer gel is alchohol which needs to be at least 60%. This is what kills off the coronavirus. Sanitizers without this alchohol content dont kill of the virus.

[Coco51 in reply to waveylines]

Does alcohol kill viruses then? I did not know that.

[waveylines in reply to Coco51]

It kills Covid 19....... 😊😊😊

Mind you if we all pickled ourselves on alcoholic drinks I wonder if it would leave us alone!!! 🤣😂🤗🤞

[sotolol in reply to waveylines]

Brandy????

[BobD Volunteer]

I've a gallon of acetone in my workshop. Will that do it?

[Coco51 in reply to BobD]

Good for your nail varnish😉

[6TIMES]

THE gel is used as a preventative measure if you can't wash your hands but I think it depends on the strength of it.not much use putting it on dirty hands.I've started wearing latex gloves

[Coco51 in reply to 6TIMES]

Makes sense to use gel liberally and then wipe it off in the absence of washing facilities I guess.

[Maggimunro in reply to 6TIMES]

I fully agree with the vinyl gloves idea. We are off to Cambridge tomorrow. Full of international visitors and students. I shall wear gloves from the minute we arrive.

[Hidden in reply to Maggimunro]

I spoke to an expert at company which manufactures medical gloves and he said you need nitrile or latex. Vinyl will protect against bacteria but not virus.

[Maggimunro in reply to Hidden]

Rats. I’ve just bought 2 boxes of vinyl gloves. Ah well.

[Hidden in reply to Maggimunro]

I bought a box of vinyl too before I got the others. There are still plenty of places that sell the other sorts however. They are no more expensive. Expect they will sell out soon however like the hand sanitiser.

[Hidden in reply to 6TIMES]

That’s what I plan to do-I’ve got two boxes containing 100 pairs. I checked with the manufacturer that they would afford protection. The globes have to be nitrile or latex- vinyl won’t do. And unlike hand sanitiser these seem to be still available. One problem is that I have washed my hands so often with wipes as soap and water that the knuckles are chafed and starting to bleed slightly.

[Coco51 in reply to Hidden]

Me too with the skin problem. Medicated hand cream anyone?

[CDreamer]

It’s not nearly as affective as soap and water.

[Coco51 in reply to CDreamer]

As I suspected...

[CDreamer in reply to Coco51]

I think people are lazy but sanitiser is useful when out and about as a temporary solution so I mostly have a small bottle in my bag. Came in very useful when baby grandson picked up dog poo and about to taste it in car park and his mum was freaking out. I saved the day!

Us previous generation of mums tend to remember our Girl Guide/Scout training - Be Prepared! 😂

[BobD Volunteer in reply to CDreamer]

And why do toilet doors open inwards? Wash your hands, use the drier and then contaminate them all over again getting out. Sleeves double as protection?

[CDreamer in reply to BobD]

Exactly my thinking Bob. I overheard that exact question being asked by a huddle in a large local ‘Farm’ retail place in Topsham yesterday. I guess simply because if you have a swinging door and pushing it outward into a busy crowded area it is going to injure someone - so liability? Solution - don’t have a door? Have a half-door to walk around? Have a hand sanitiser gel handle which coats your hands with sanitiser as soon as you grasp the handle as they do on cruise ships?

I wash, dry and then put on gloves, use elbow if I can, wait until another person opens the door and tail-gate..........

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

I’ve been saying that for years n everyone laughed at me !😡😡

[sotolol in reply to BobD]

Yes yes I use another piece of loo paper then drop it on the floor as the door opens. 🙄

[Eric48 in reply to sotolol]

Couldn’t you put it in a bin?

[sotolol in reply to Eric48]

No because it’s got the germs on the handle from people who haven’t washed their hands.

[Eric48 in reply to sotolol]

Could you use the tissue to open the bin, if it’s not foot operated or just put it in a rubbish bin

[sotolol in reply to Eric48]

I’ll try next time. 👍🏻

[MydogBrandy in reply to BobD]

Use tissues for toilet door handles but if the soap is a hand press one or even hand press sanitisers best using your covered wrist to press, always note doctors / surgeons with the swing taps always wash hands then use elbow to swing the tap back . Also beware lift buttons....pull sleeve down to press lol x

[Coco51 in reply to CDreamer]

Absolutely. Supernan to the rescue. My handbag is a portable pharmacy!

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

Problem is you can’t buy any easily. I’ve got two small foam dispensers and 5 small packs of anti-virile wipes. But the outbreak might go on gif s long time. Another worrynix that I am a) oldish (65) and a commuter using trains and buses-not a good combination. Part of the train journey is very crowded too.

[sotolol in reply to CDreamer]

My daughter’s friend is a GP soap and water is all you need. Even bubble bath if there is non left in the shops. Nothing like panic it is what it is.

[CDreamer]

We have visitors arriving from London today, who often travel to Far East and China. They will be ‘indoctrinated’ before they enter and their 1st job is to wash their hands - luckily the washroom is right beside the front door and that is now going to be our ‘norm’.

Anyone, including ourselves comes in the house - wash hands before touching anything else anywhere.

[jeanjeannie50]

That's set us thinking!

A friend called to see me on Wednesday, she'd just got over a nasty two week chest infection. Don't worry, she said, I'll wash my hands as soon as I get to you. She did and dried them on the hand towel in my bathroom. As soon as she went that towel was removed to be laundered. She also had a coughing fit, when we were sat talking, and I can just imagine the look of horror that must have been on my face. I hate people coughing around me at any time, let alone when COVID-19 is spreading.

Bless her she's a lovely, loyal friend though.

[sotolol in reply to jeanjeannie50]

So many people just sneeze in your face in shops before all this virus started. My granddaughter always washed her hands after school mummy works in a hospital. Also when she visits she does does it then says .. oh I’ve not been at school but laughs. I always wipe shopping trolley handles too. A lady walked out the loo didn’t wash her hands then went on blissfully shopping. I wipe all my shopping too. I’m nuts but don’t care. Got to keep our hearts ♥️ safe I say.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to sotolol]

I've seen people turn and sneeze all over food in shops. My friend and myself once walked out of the queue in a M&S cafe because we saw the person in front do that. Disgusting!!!

[sotolol in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I just don’t get people like that. Ignorant or morons. Lots of other names I could call them. My mum bless her used to say you can be poor but a bar of soap costs pennies. I even clean my wheelie bins and use a cheap polish on them. I always have though. I’m a bit OCD. Good for you walking out.

[waveylines in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Maybe a lovely friend but surely she should have rang you instead?????

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to waveylines]

She did, saying she felt better. So I said yes come over. She was embarrassed by her bout of coughing and said it was one of those choking ones we all can get and not caused by a virus.

[sotolol in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I believe that as I get them. So sympathise.

[Coco51 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

A friend of mine who has an asthmatic cough was lectured by another person in a café about infecting others. People leap to conclusions and sometimes they are wrong !

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

The probability of catching anything is very low at the moment, but in a few weeks time it may be a different ballgame as the virus multiplied exponentially.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hidden]

There are 4 cases of the virus in a radius of 1-2 miles from me. Two schools and a countryside church involved. It really changes your outlook when it gets this close.

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Have they closed the church and the school?

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, two schools shut and the church.

[jeanjeannie50]

I have a box of latex gloves and I'm telling myself that every time I use a supermarket trolley now I'm going to pop a pair on. Bear in mind that I'm in an area where 4 people have been confirmed as having COVID19.

Jean

[sotolol in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Good bless you

[sotolol in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Remember peanuts on bar counters. Yuk. They have disappeared thank God. I did a health and hygiene course for a job once I baked cakes for a cafe for a shot time. The videos and hand hygiene was disgusting. Still ho hum. Keep smiling. Soon be over.

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I haven’t yet seen anyone wearing these gloves yet. I have bought two boxes of them (100 pair); unlike hand sanitiser they are still available widely.

[waveylines]

Gloves are a good idea so long as you dont touch your face........really hard to resist!! Its like when you know you cant you ALWAYS want to!!