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?

MN as usual full of people willing to do anything rather than actually fucking wash their hands. Like the posts on here where people fanny about moving dirt around their bodies with a flannel instead of just having a shower.

Hand gel is dangerous because it gives a false sense of security. Antibacterial handwash is also dangerous for exactly the same reason - it doesn't do anything at all when used as a normal handwash to bacteria let alone viruses.

Use bar soap and water and be thorough. Not just the tips of fingers. If you have a real need for something genuinely antimicrobial you can buy Jamaican (all the others are not true carbolics) carbolic bar soap on Amazon.

www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-hand-sanitizer.html

www.verywellhealth.com/should-you-use-hand-sanitizer-770727

Hibiscrub?

You'd still have to wash your hands with it and most are too lazy

Washing with hot soapy water is much more effective - get your kids in the habit particularly before eating and when they get in from school or activities.

I use gel for when getting of public transport and no hand washing facilities are available . I refill a small container that I carry around to use when sinks not available

You can make your own.

70pwr cent rubbing alcohol. Cheap on amazon

Mix with some aloe Vera gel

Haz 500 ml Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol First Aid Anti Septic www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FQLUHSI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_joswEbGAQ2ANY?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Those are good links from Plombear, worth reading.

To everyone declaring that you won't find alcohol gels with >60% outside of healthcare settings - that's simply wrong. A surprising number of commonly available ones do have that.

If we get to the point where we think coronavirus is spreading in schools to the extent that we have to line up all kids to wash hands multiple times a day (and rely on them doing it properly!), then I think we'll be well past the point when those people who can keep their kids at home should be allowed to do it with the government's blessing.

Half as many kids at school (or however many fewer it could be) would mean more space between kids at school and less pressure on handwashing facilities. It would make schools safer and less likely to be transmission hotspots compared to when they're full.

Yes washing is better but not always practical. I have used gel today as I have in and out of shops but I washed my hands in a sink in the restaurant with soap before eating . Remember to use a tissue to open the door on the way out. Most people don't wash their hands properly in loos. Sing happy birthday song twice while washing

Out for lunch last week went to loo, came out at the same time as an elderly lady who walked past basins and headed for exit. For the first time I was so tempted to say "Oiy come back and wash your hands" would that have been out of order do you think.

Lots of gels have 60-70 percent alcohol. You just need to read the ingredient list. The ones labelled Antibacterial don't tend to but some do.

I have used gel today as I have in and out of shops but I washed my hands in a sink in the restaurant with soap before eating.

Unless you're constantly putting your hands in your mouth or near your face, why do you need to use the gel so often during the day?

Wtf....20 bottles. No wonder there is little left! You seriously do not need 20 bottles!

I just wash my hands.

These have just gone up at DDs Uni outside all of the buildings

This is another alternative that I use. More expensive than cheap alcohol gels but I think it’s worth it (plus you can get the concentrate to refill the bottles). Only thing to note is it’s got a 6 month shelf life.

www.dewproducts.co.uk/product-page/dew-electrolysed-water-hand-sanitiser-100-hypoallergenic-non-irritant-1

@Bogoffrain

I’ve just bought 20 little ones and 5 large ones in wilko.

What. The. Fuck.

Seriously. Is there something wrong with you?

Unless you're constantly putting your hands in your mouth or near your face, why do you need to use the gel so often during the day?

If you have just used a keypad to put a PIN into, why wouldn't you clean your hand (or finger) straight away? Why avoid touching your face, but then casually spread the germs from the keypad to your phone, car keys, anything else you touch, when you can avoid it?

We need to aim to keep our hands clean, not just keep them dirty but avoid touching anything but our own face. Otherwise we'll keep spreading germs e.g. from the keypad in one shop to the keypad in the next shop. Yes it does seem a bit like OCD but unfortunately that's where we're at, temporarily.

hand washing is best practice, however, taps, running water & soap are not always available. Young children may find it difficult to use tissues

None of which makes antibacterial gel any more effective.

What about breathing in respiratory droplets from infected people?

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html

“The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.

Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet)
Via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.”

I would be more worried about breathing than using hand gel.

“It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”

If you have just used a keypad to put a PIN into, why wouldn't you clean your hand (or finger) straight away? Why avoid touching your face, but then casually spread the germs from the keypad to your phone, car keys, anything else you touch, when you can avoid it?

Your phone, keys, car and everything else are going to be covered in germs anyway. No amount of gel use is going to stop that.

The idea is give yourself clean hands, and the only truly effective way of making sure your hands are clean is washing them with soap and water. It's also much, much better for your skin to just wash your hands when you get in the house than it is to put alcohol gel on your hands every 30 minutes.

The best way to stop the spread of germs and disease is to wash your hands on a regular basis. Using gel is not a replacement for that.

Viruses aren't alive. Therefore cannot die :). Best thing to get rid is hot soapy water and thoroughly drying too

The best way to stop the spread of germs and disease is to wash your hands on a regular basis. Using gel is not a replacement for that.

No its IN ADDITION!!!

No its IN ADDITION!!!

But it's a pointless addition, because it doesn't work in the same way as washing your hands does! That's the point.

You can use gel all you like, but you still need to wash your hands properly, so what's the point?

The best way to stop the spread of germs and disease is to wash your hands on a regular basis. Using gel is not a replacement for that.

OMG, how many times do people have to say that we know that?! You are preaching to the converted. >60% alcohol gel is not a replacement for handwashing but it's better than nothing when you can't do that.

And just saying "oh there are loads of germs on my phone already, I won't bother trying not to add any more" is not very helpful in the middle of a disease epidemic!

From the CDC link above:

CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water whenever possible because handwashing reduces the amounts of all types of germs and chemicals on hands. But if soap and water are not available, using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

Can't you provide a packet of tissues to sneeze into?

I hate antibacterial products. The chemical in it is very strong and I find it too drying. I have dry skin and end up with eczema when I use it (and antibac hand wash) too much. I imagine children's skin is also very delicate. If you see anyone in Boots/Superdrug at the handwash counter rooting around the products....that'll be me, looking for a handwash that is antibacterial.

The best way of not getting the virus is to stop breathing entirely.