Hand sanitizer: Don't leave home without it

With the latest development on the H1N1 Influenza where Malaysians are increasingly being aware on the dangers brought along by this epidemic, there are reports that hand sanitizers are selling like hot cakes.

Members of the public are snapping up the surgical face masks too amidst reports that some pharmacies are selling the items on inflated prices.

Several pharmacies in the city have reported to be almost running out of hand sanitizers.

"Before, I used to sell about 10 bottles or dispensers of hand sanitizers in a month. But lately I can sell that many within a few hours a day. My stock of hand sanitizers is depleting very fast and my regular suppliers said they are rushing in more supply to replenish these products," Desmond Ng, the owner of a pharmacy in Petaling Jaya told Bernama.

Several pharmacies here have also reported similar situation.

The operator of a pharmacy in Rawang near here said he had ran out of hand sanitizers since a week ago.

"Many people are buying the antiseptic for their own use and also for their school-going children," he said.

These hand sanitizers are also available at convenience stores.

Civil servant Maimunah Amat from Bandar Country Homes in Rawang near here said she recently bought five small bottles of hand sanitizers for her family.

"My husband and I carry one (bottle) each to our respective offices. Each of our school-going children bring one to school, apart from wearing the surgical masks," she said.

In the wake of the HINI flu outbreak, many schools have distributed surgical masks for their students apart from encouraging them to regularly wash their hands with soap and water.

"If they can afford it, they can also bring hand sanitizers to school as they can replace soap and water," said a school teacher.

What is a hand sanitizer?

A hand sanitizer is also known as a healthcare hand wash or hand antiseptic. It is used as an alternative to hand washing with soap and water.

A variety of sanitizers are available in the market including gels, foam and liquid solutions. Brands like Desmanol and Solvi-sol are known to be used by some hospitals in the city.

However some hand sanitizers contain alcohol like ethanol and isopropanol.

According to a medical officer of a public hospital here, hand sanitizers containing alcohol are more effective at killing germs than soaps.

"Hand sanitizers do not dry out hands as much as soaps. But there are also hand sanitizers that are not alcohol-based and contain natural products and essential oils.

"There are others that use other than alcohol, such as triclosan or benzalkonium chloride, to kill germs," he said.

Pharmacies told not to hike prices

According to a salesman in the pharmaceutical industry, Johnson Yim, using hand sanitizers is an effective way to "wash one's hands" when soap and water are not available.

"These waterless products are popular with parents of small children. Some producers of hand sanitizers claim that the sanitizers kill 99.9 percent of germs," he said.

Financial executive Mohd Nor Ibrahim said he has started to bring along a small bottle of hand sanitizer to work.

"Apart from wearing the surgical mask, I also have a small bottle of the hand sanitizer in my pocket. My wife keeps one in her handbag and uses it regularly while at work," he said.

Car salesman Fikri Abdul said he has been using hand sanitizers for over one month.

"Since I heard of the outbreak of the H1N1, I have been using hand sanitizers while working as it does not need soap and water to keep my hands clean from bacteria," he said.

Fikri however urged pharmacies not to inflate the price of surgical masks.

"Before the surgical masks are not that expensive but nowadays, the price has doubled or even tripled," he added.

Recently Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai has called on pharmacies and other business outlets not to take advantage of the situation by inflating the price of surgical masks.

- Bernama