When you're on the go and don't have access to a restroom, antibacterial hand sanitizer is an effective way to cleanse your hands after virus exposure. Viruses can spread from direct person-to-person contact or from contaminated objects. The influenza virus, for example, can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for two to eight hours after being deposited on the surface, cites the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, or CDC. Sold in bottles small enough to fit in your pocket, and safe for children and adults, hand sanitizer kills viruses without water and can be applied in a matter of seconds.
Step 1
Squirt or squeeze out enough alcohol-based hand sanitizer into the palm of one hand to fully wet both hands. The alcohol content of the sanitizer should be at least 60 percent, says MayoClinic.com.
Step 2
Rub your hands together, like you are washing them, for up to 25 seconds, or until your hands are dry.
Step 3
Reapply the hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available and when you know you've come in contact with a virus or after the following situations: going to the bathroom, changing a diaper, touching an animal, handling garbage or raw meat, blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing into your hands or touching a sick or injured person.
Tips and Warnings
- Always wash your hands or apply antibacterial hand sanitizer before eating, preparing food, touching someone sick or injured, treating wounds or giving medicine, and touching contact lenses. The CDC recommends alcohol-based hand sanitizers, but suggests that when you cannot use an alcohol-based sanitizer, other hand sanitizers may be useful.
- Antibacterial hand sanitizer will disinfect your hands, but it will not always remove visible dirt and grime. Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds to remove visible dirt.
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