Hand Sanitizer - Not as safe as you think?

United States
March 3, 2009 12:07pm CST
I received an email from my Aunt in regards to hand sanitizer. I have heard about the scare before but it was one of those "rumor has it statements" made between some fellow moms and myself. I know being the health nut mom I am that I make sure I wash my hands and if a sink isn't around I go to grab the hand sanitizer. Thinking that this will kill the germs and won't spread anything to my daughter. Sadly, I now question the safety of hand sanitizer. Though the situation is a bit different, it makes you sit back and question what you do as a mother. Here's the story: Yesterday, my youngest daughter, Halle, who is 4, was rushed to the emergency room by her father for being severely lethargic and incoherent. He was called to her school by the school secretary for being "very very sick". He told me that when he arrived, Halle was barely sitting in the chair. She couldn't hold her own head up and when he looked into her eyes, she couldn't focus them. He immediately scooped her up and rushed her to the ER and then called me. When we got there, they ran blood test after blood test and did x-rays, every test imaginable. Her white blood cell count was normal, nothing was out of the oridinary. The ER doctor told us that he had done everything that he could do so he was sending her to Saint Francis for further tests. Right when we were leaving in the ambulance, her teacher came to the ER and, after questioning Halle's classmates, we found out that she had licked hand sanitizer off her hand. Hand sanitizer, of all things. But it makes sense. These days they have all kinds of different scents and when you have a curious child, they are going to put all kids of things into their mouths. When we arrived at Saint Francis, we told the ER doctor there to check her blood alcohol level, and yes we did get weird looks, but they did it. The results showed her blood alcohol level was 85% -- six hours after we first took her. There's no telling what it would have been if we would have requested it at the first ER. Since then, her school and a few surrounding schools have taken this out of the classrooms of all the lower grade classes, but what's to stop middle and high schoolers. After doing research on the internet, we have found out that it only takes 3 squirts of the stuff to be fatal in a toddler. For her blood alcohol level to be so high was to compare someone her size to drinking something 120 proof. This story is very sad and as a mother of an 8 month old it scares me to think that me using my handsanitizer could cause health issues to her. My daughter constantly wants tries to chew on my fingers (she's teething) and there are times where I can't make it to a sink and pull out the hand sanitizer to kill ahy germs. I also think to myself and have spread the word to many of my fellow parents who use hand sanitizer for their kids. Kids put their hands in their mouths all the time and what you think may be good really isn't.
3 people like this
7 responses
• United States
3 Mar 09
Wow. Your story is pretty scary. I have 3 young ones at home and have hand sanitizer, but its not within reach. I also teach prek and we use hand sanitizer in our classroom all the time. I have never heard of this, but thanks for making me aware. I don't think I will be using it anymore, even on myself (I have a teether too). Of course, it is always better to use good old soap and water anyways. Hand sanitizer does not work as well, but its better than nothing. I will make sure I always have it out of reach now! Thanks for your post!
• United States
3 Mar 09
I had heard about amongst my mommy friends but then I received the email from my aunt and it made me think twice about using it. Especially if this poor girl just licked her hand and had that happen. Thats the first thing I reach out for when I can't get to a sink thinking it is better than nothing. It's definately a word to pass around to all moms, teachers, etc. just as a precaution.
@pratik87 (1927)
• India
4 Mar 09
so what is the better option?
@mansha (6298)
• India
3 Mar 09
One of my friend never travels without hand sanitizer and I also use it with myy daughter, I never knew it was so unsafe. Thanks or the post. I am goign to share this with her and eryone I know. Its really dangerous and no one thought of putting any warning out about it. Pretty scary, I use it on my daughter's hands too now I will avoid it certainly.
@joekid (87)
• United States
4 Mar 09
What about antibacterial wipes??
@dropofrain (1167)
• India
4 Mar 09
Thanks for sharing such an important information with the fellow mylotters. I think this will really help all those who considered the hand sanitizer the most hygenic and useful thing in the world!!
@michmich2 (432)
• United States
4 Mar 09
Wow - that is extremely scary! I have a baby at home and like you said, he often tries to chew on my fingers. Even though it's obvious that hand sanitizer isn't good to ingest, I never realized that such a small amount can be so dangerous! I'll definitely think twice about how often I use it at home now. How scary!
@jessi0887 (2788)
• United States
3 Mar 09
Thanks for sharing. That is pretty scary. For some reason i have always kept this away from my son just on instinct. Looks like my instinct has payed off. I never buy it though. I just choose to wash my hands with soap.