To be stressed about lack of antibacterial hand gel in the shops?

[boredorboard]

School told us to provide DC with antibacterial hand gel for school. Went to every shop/chemist in town that normally sells this and all sold out. No info on restocks but unlikely as wholesalers have also sold out. Also looked online and have only been able to find some at a very high price on Amazon. So that's that then. We are going to have to rely on good old fashioned hand washing.

Wondering if there are any other products available with the magic 60% alcohol content we could use as an alternative? Any suggestions?

Fair enough. I got it wrong. That’s what I was taught by my dr

But fair do people. It seems hot or cold works as well!

Too much hand gel will dry out hands and could potentially lead to cracking of the skin. Direct access for viruses. Soap and water with a good supply of tissues is the best course of action. My primary school has a sink in the classroom so they wash little hands there.

Children should be taught to cough into the crook of their elbow not into tissues. If they cough into tissues they then tend to scrunch them up in their pocket and carry them about plus they can get droplets onto their hands. they then touch things.

They need to be taught to cough and sneeze into their elbows and to use alcohol based hand gel (which DOES give protection against viruses if it is above 60%) when they have no access to soap and water but to otherwise wash their hands properly when they do have access to soap and water. The should be washing their hands (properly and with soap) when they come into school, at break times, before and after lunch and when they get home (plus obviously if they go to the toilet).

Ha not Alice Beer! Sorry thought she was Vanessa Feltz earlier. They sound exactly the same!

I'm not sure the hand gel is going to be particularly worth having taking into consideration all the comments above. I think if Corona virus is around you are very likely to catch it anyway regardless. Door handles, chairs, text books, etc. Obviously you need to be coughing into your elbow, washing your hands properly and not touching your face. that's pretty much all you can do. Let's hope that this dies out over the coming weeks.

I’ve just bought 20 little ones and 5 large ones in wilko. Hopefully stocked up now.

I don’t understand why people are going crazy about buying anti back hand gels/sprays? Most hospitals here have stopped using them because it’s been proven that hand washing is more effective. I don’t own any hand gel, I just wash my hands.

Aldi had loads of the small bottles in by the tills the other day - don't think it's 60% though but I'm befuddled by the antibac gel hysteria for a virus! I tend to have some on-hand anyway on my lanyard as I'm working with small children who are generally walking petri-dishes of germs and if it's dangling round my neck I actually remember to use it, but I'm not assuming it's some magical anti-coronavirus talisman!

Our school have emailed to say that they have introduced a strict hand washing schedule for all children and I think that's preferable to asking kids to bring gel in.

My kids all have a bottle of gel in their school bags but I doubt they remember to use it.

I'm guessing it is hard for the school to get all the children to wash hands they have few sinks in the toilets etc therefore the hand gel? Not sure.

As an aside you can get it in the smaller pharmacies, I saw some in Lloyds pharmacy for example but none in Boots / Superdrug.

I’ve just bought 20 little ones and 5 large ones in wilko. Hopefully stocked up now.

Good God. Why?!

I've always had one in my bag for years but I doubt it's massively useful. I use it if I eat something when I'm on the train or something.

I really don't understand buying 20 bottles of the stuff - what on earth is that about? Are you thinking you'll be without soap and water?

I got 20 for myself at work I’m customer facing and they like to shake my hand, elderly parents, kids at school and my colleagues. Not all for me.

all trying to queue to wash their hands thoroughly before lunch. It would be good if they could but I suspect there isn't time.

Well they could.. ours does.. Along with all the rest of the standard advice about singing happy birthday (quietly in your head) as you do it, elbow sneezing etc. given the choice of that or kids scrabbling for gel I don't think it's so different.

And I work on the community in people homes where the washing facilities are not ideal.

Well I guess as with us you have all been sent the guidance for education setting which says about washing them all the time basically, not just before lunch. How could they manage that with all the children?

Anti bacterial hand wipes ?The teacher might want to invest in anti bacterial cleaning wipes for the tables.

Yes, hand washing will do the trick. And, gels can smell...

If every child in the class is carrying antibacterial gel then surely there's enough for everyone!

This is bordering on hysteria imo.

Would baby wipes with some dettol added work in a pinch? Zero idea if it would work or not but might be easy for kids to use in school?

Also, this is just going to prove to be a massive distraction in the classroom, 30 5yr olds constantly in and out of little bottles, sniffing and getting giddy.

10mins before someone gets some in their eye.

You can buy packets of Antibac wipes in all the cheap chemists or£ stretchers put them in their bags with extra tissues.

Assuming no hand washing facilities- what is anti viral?

the teacher might want to invest in some anti bacterial wipes for the table

What a good idea. I hope it is taken up by health professionals, shop assistants, bus drivers, street cleaners, baristas, chefs, politicians, soft play workers, farmers, journalists, footballers, cab drivers, fire fighters, ambulance crew and any one else.

And of course if they can't afford to buy them then I am sure that the kind ,caring , well paid teachers will offer to share some of theirs, or play secret sanitiser and donate some anonymously. Because that's what teachers do.

Use of tissues and regular application of soap and water sounds best against viruses and is kinder to skin. (Damage to skin is going to open up new possibilities for bacteria and viruses.)

I plan to stock up on bottles of gin in case the hand-gel shortage spreads!

www.washmestyleme.com/product/hand-wash/hospital-grade-antibacterial-hand-gel/

£3.49 plus p&p here for 600ml. (Free postage over £15 order) doesn't state alcohol content but does say hospital grade.