The onset of the flu season and the spread of the H1N1 virus in the United States are boosting the demand for products like hand sanitizers. The most concerned are parents of small children who are giving the hand sanitizers to their kids as an extra precaution when they are in school or outdoors. But as the use of hand sanitizers has increased, so have calls to poison control centers about the safety of these products. Moreover, the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) said in a recent press release that reports of exposure to ethanol-containing hand sanitizers have also increased.

First, never use any hand sanitizer directly on the hands of a baby under the age of 1 year. Hand sanitizers can be dangerous to small children when their curiosity gets the best of them. Kids will try to learn by using their different senses and will explore things by touching, listening, smelling or tasting. That being said, they might be tempted to taste a hand sanitizer because of its sweet-smelling scent. Others might be enticed by its colorful container or the liquid itself might be of attractive color.

Children who get poisoned by hand sanitizers often show symptoms of lethargy or intoxication or may speak incoherently. If you believe your child has been poisoned, it is of utmost importance that you contact your local poison center immediately. They are open everyday for 24 hours so emergency services can be dispatched in an instant.

While there is definitely a risk involved in letting children use hand sanitizers, the AAPCC advices that the benefits of using these products for disease prevention can outweigh the risk for ethanol poisoning. Parents and school teachers need only guide and monitor the kids properly so that poisoning can be prevented.

A more effective solution is to use non-alcohol products like The Germinator Hand Sanitizer. This safe and natural household solution from BabyGanics is alcohol and fragrance free and kills 99.9% of germs so you can be sure your child is safe both from bugs and from harmful chemicals.

Related Articles:

Preventative Safety Tips for Parents Timed to H1N1 Flu

The Green Way to Keep the Flu (and Other Bugs) Away