Hundreds more individuals are being harmed by alcohol-based hand sanitizers (news report).

Intentional substance abuse is occurring worldwide causing injury and death (medical journal report).

Recommended levels of alcohol increasing to as much as 95% (website); that is the equivalent of nearly pure alcohol disguised as hand sanitizer.

With hand sanitizer availability everywhere you turn in public spaces, a question that arises is, “Would businesses and institutions be legally responsible for providing free access to alcohol when alcohol is a controlled substance?”

Is there a solution to this growing societal problem on a global scale? 

FDA APPROVED ACTIVE INGREDIENTS IN HAND SANITIZER

In 2019, the FDA declared three active ingredients in hand sanitizer and simultaneously issued a warning for manufacturers of anti-bacterial products and those that use deceptive marketing practices including scents.

The three active ingredients are ethanol alcohol (same form of alcohol in adult beverages), isopropyl alcohol (also known as rubbing alcohol used in glass cleaner, anti-freeze), and the only alcohol-free choice benzalkonium chloride that is classified as an organic salt (can be synthesized). 

If society is now grappling with an inexpensive source of alcohol that is offered freely in public places and institutions, the choice to provide it is a conscious decision. 

RESEARCH DATA POINTS TO ALCOHOL-FREE SOLUTIONS FOR CHILD AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Research analyzed by the National Poison Data System (NPDS) from 2011–14 on exposures to alcohol and non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers in children who were 12 years-old or younger indicates that 92% of exposures were from alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

• A total of 70,669 hand sanitizer exposures in this age group were reported to NPDS

• 65,293 (92%) were alcohol-based exposures

• 5,376 (8%) were non-alcohol-based exposures

New research from the United Kingdom states that alcohol-based hand sanitizer poisonings reported to the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) jumped 157% — from 155 between January 1 and September 16, 2019, to 398 between January 1 and September 14, 2020.

With more alcohol-based hand sanitizer products readily available, the risks to children and adults have increased significantly.

Poison control research data indicates the most common type of adverse health effects for hand sanitizers were:

Occular irritation

Vomiting

Conjunctivitis

Oral Irritation

Cough

Abdominal pain

Coma

Seizure

Hypoglycemia

Metabolic acidosis

Respiratory depression

Death

Alcohol-based sanitizers pose the most risk to children. Children’s livers are not completely developed and therefore cannot process the alcohol content in hand sanitizers as an adult can (medical journal report). This is the reason that alcohol is a controlled substance in the U.S. and accessible to those who are at least 21 years of age. 

Knowing that there is an alcohol-free alternative readily available opens the door for a conscious decision to be made with child safety and public safety. 

Sanitizing Safety has released part one of a 2-part video interview with the world leader in quaternary ammonium-based sanitizing solutions for hands, skin, and surfaces. (video link)

Part two of the interview that focuses on restoring industries and public trust will be posted in February. 

We encourage the public to learn more about all alcohol-free sanitizing options for public and personal safety. 

ALCOHOL-FREE BZK FOR SAFE SKIN SANITIZING

Benzalkonium chloride is gentle enough on skin to be used and overused (softens skin with repeated use). In Sanitizing Safety’s report on hand hygiene protocol with renowned skin expert, Dr. Ted Emanuel, he clearly states that natural salts restore the skin’s protective acid mantle that shields the body from dangerous microbes (video link). Quaternary ammonium compounds are salts that are highly effective with addressing SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). 

Medical research reports that prove quaternary ammonium compounds (quats, QAC) are powerful enough to address the most dangerous microbe affecting society today include:

February 16, 2019
“Demonstrating the persistent antibacterial efficacy of a hand sanitizer containing benzalkonium chloride on human skin at 1, 2, and 4 hours after application”

May 15, 2020
“Are Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, the Workhorse Disinfectants, Effective against Severe Acute Respiratory SyndromeCoronavirus-2?”

November 29, 2020
“Alcohol-free hand sanitizer and other quaternary ammonium disinfectants quickly and effectively inactivate SARS-CoV-2”

With as much as 4-hours of active protection of hands and skin with an alcohol-free hand sanitizer the conscious choice to provide it to children and the public must be made to immediately address the growing trend of alcohol abuse from accidental and international ingestion occurring worldwide.