Sanitizing Gels
Sanitizing gels are extremely convenient to use and useful when soap and water are not available. On occasions such as field trips, sanitizing gels are very helpful in removing common bacteria found on the hands. Sanitizing gels are also useful in the case of a center-wide emergency or disaster event, such as in the case of an earthquake.

However, hand sanitizers bring with them safety issues for child care provider. Ethyl alcohol is the active ingredient in most sanitizing gels. They are usually thickened with a carbopol polymer which causes them to have more than 80% alcohol content, more than what is normally found in hard liquors. This means that when attempting to reduce certain infections, such as staphylococcus aureus, sanitizing gels are an excellent choice. But it also means that sanitizing gels have the potential for toxicity in very young children and infants, who explore their world through hand/mouth activities. Because they are constantly placing their hands in their mouths and sucking on fingers, they could be poisoned through the ingestion of even small amounts of hand sanitizers. According to the Central New York Poison Control Center, ingestion of as little as an ounce of two by a small child could be fatal, so hand sanitizers must be kept out of reach of children and applied carefully.

Hand Washing
The goals of hand washing in child care is not only to reduce the transmission of communicable diseases, but also to teach important lifelong health skills. The National Association for the Education of Young Children recommends beginning the practice of hand washing as soon as children are developmentally able to rub their hands together. They also encourage the wiping of infants’ hands after diaper changes and before meals.

Another benefit of hand washing is the cost effectiveness of soap and water. Commercially prepared sanitizing gels tend to cost much more than soap and water. Sanitizing gels are not intended to remove dirt, food or other debris commonly found on young children’s hands. Hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds can remove most surface dirt and much bacteria.

According to Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director of the centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the addition of alcohol preps is an expansion of hygiene, not a substitute for practices that we’ve known for a long time are important. Good old hand washing with soap and water is still the best and most cost-effective method for child care.

Article Courtesy of Child Care Health Connections