Poll: Do you use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer as an adjunct to handwashing?

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 22, 2005

Gave my dh a bottle of hand sanitizer for office use. He is ALWAYS shaking hands in his managerial position and is now paranoid about the germs (thanks to his nutty nurse wife). I think it helps; the flu made rounds at his office 2 weeks ago and none of us in our family got sick.....including HIM! He also keeps kleenex for others' use and will NOT let them use his pens/pencils or computer. He is very clean, let us say...rofl....

anyhow....

Hand hygiene is so important. I still believe nothing replaces washing them, however. It's not about the chemical(s) we use so much as the friction we use, physically removing microbes, that is so effective. Can't escape that fact, so far.

KrisRNwannabe · Feb 22, 2005

I wash my hands with soap and water after every contact. then I use my bath and body works moisturizing hand sanitizer. I am a fanatic about germs. I do not want to get sick. I found regular sanitizer to drying that is why i get the bath and body works moisturizing one. i just carry it around in my pocket. i also keep one in my purse, and book bag. hubby has one at work. since everyone he works with has little kids in day care that are always sick and they don't have half a brain to stay home. he also keeps lysol handy cuz they don't mind using others computers and phones so he has learned to spray down!!!

MuseAcal · Feb 23, 2005

Gave my dh a bottle of hand sanitizer for office use. He is ALWAYS shaking hands in his managerial position and is now paranoid about the germs (thanks to his nutty nurse wife).

Nothing like a "nutty nurse" in the family to get 'em ALL thinking about germs!

My first-grader showed her class PROPER handwashing last year in kindergarten (enough soap to make a good lather, then rubbing hands all over while singing "Twinkle Twinkle" before rinsing well). This year my 5-yr old twin granddaughters (yeah I know, we have some interesting family dynamics!) came home from school - they have the same teacher the first-grader had last year - and showed us how their teacher taught them to wash their hands! Needless to say, the first-grader was pretty proud of herself when they demonstrated her technique!!

:Melody:

scooterRN52 · Feb 23, 2005

I use the alcohol based gel sanitizers on the way to the sink where I can wash my hands w/ soap and water which feels much better and cleaner too. The alcohol gel

really feels like a coating on your skin.

tracytoon · Feb 23, 2005

I use it, especially in the nursing home, but I also suffer from painful cracks and fissures at the end of my fingers beside my nails. Is there nothing that would help prevent this. The more days in a row that I work the worse it is. I have a hairdresser who also has this problem. I think the hand lotions only make it worse because healing can't take place when you put lotion with perfumes, etc in it, on an open wound. I also worrry about picking up an infection. Why not do a survey about this and see if anyone has a solution.
Cathy

I use gels all the time, have them in car, at home, in purse. I do use them at work, although I am a handwashing fiend. People are always giving me pretty anti-bacterial soaps as gifts, and Bath and Body Works has moisturizing anti-bac soap and I have discovered that the fissures around my nails have gone since using it.

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN · Feb 23, 2005

All gels are not equal. The brand we are using at work now, is much better than the last one. :)

MsAngieB1975 · Feb 23, 2005

I use it when I am leaving the patient's room. Then I wash my hands soon after. For some reason I do not like the sticky feel left on my hands after use. I see nothing wrong with using it, as nurses for the most part we are always on the go

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2005

I use it all the time between patients etc and like it, I find it kinder to my skin and a lot quicker than a hand wash with soap. We have a dispenser at the end of each bed and trollys and outside doorways.
Great stuff - just don't drink it as some patients have been found to do!!! (Not on my ward)
Kay the 2nd x

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

good one.

Better than drinking their urine cause they on fluid restriction!!!!!

Alicia18 · Feb 23, 2005

If my hands aren't too dirty or don't feel too dirty, I love to use the gel to wash my hands -- esp. if the call bells are REALLY going or if its just a busy time in the shift. Of course if my hands do feel yicky, water is best every time.

LittleCatB · Feb 23, 2005

I use it, especially in the nursing home, but I also suffer from painful cracks and fissures at the end of my fingers beside my nails. Is there nothing that would help prevent this. The more days in a row that I work the worse it is. I have a hairdresser who also has this problem. I think the hand lotions only make it worse because healing can't take place when you put lotion with perfumes, etc in it, on an open wound. I also worrry about picking up an infection. Why not do a survey about this and see if anyone has a solution.
Cathy

Aquafor helps... Slather it on at night.

Also, it sounds gross, but clip and/or file the dry skin on the tips of your fingers, around where the skin cracked- and then keep up with lightly filing it every day. It's like once it splits, it stays open because the skin is dry and hardened around it. If you get rid of the dry skin and keep slathering it with Aquafor at night it'll heal.

How long are your nails, Cathy? I haven't had much of a problem with my fingertips cracking in the past few months, since I forced myself to grow out my nails. (not long, just to the tips)

Compassionate_Nurse · Feb 24, 2005

It is not as slimey as the gel and dries quicker.

I like the foaming sanitizer that HCA uses.

Compassionate_Nurse · Feb 24, 2005

I use it, especially in the nursing home, but I also suffer from painful cracks and fissures at the end of my fingers beside my nails. Is there nothing that would help prevent this. The more days in a row that I work the worse it is. I have a hairdresser who also has this problem. I think the hand lotions only make it worse because healing can't take place when you put lotion with perfumes, etc in it, on an open wound. I also worrry about picking up an infection. Why not do a survey about this and see if anyone has a solution.
Cathy

it might be the gloves but if they do break out apply antibiotic ointment and wrap hands in socks or something and sleep like that. also but a really good face lotion like oil of olay and apply it to your hands several times a day. always works for me