Duped And Still Dirty...

So, hundreds of children have actually been poisoned by their hand sanitizing gel.  I heard this story on a radio newscast this morning.  Apparently the stuff tastes pretty good to some kids, even after it has dried on their skin, and they are getting alcohol poisoning from licking it off over and over and over.  As the child licks, the ethanol base of the gel ends up collecting in his bloodstream and making him sick.......sometimes really, really sick.  Since these gels are also formulated with some version of triclosan (that's the active, anti-bacterial ingredient), as well as a long list of other chemicals, I'm betting that while the ethanol might currently be the most obvious problem with oral ingestion, it is not the only one.

The recommendation I heard at the end of the radio report was to keep the gel away from children...make them ask an adult for it, and then said adult should attend and supervise the use of the gel.  What?...  Is that going to keep the child from licking it off as soon as the adult's back is turned?  I don't think so. 

How 'bout this ~ how 'bout we teach our kids how to use soap and water?

My first objection to the at-home anti-bacterial craze is that nothing sold to us over the counter can contain a strong enough dose of anti-bacterial chemicals to really kill the "big bad" germs.  All we can do with an over the counter anti-bacterial product is make the environment in the immediate vicinity of the product slightly more hostile to germs than it was before the application of the product.  This will certainly kill some of the germs in the area, but only the really weak ones ~ causing the stronger ones to mutate in such a way as to make them even stronger and more resistant to such products in the future.  Over the counter anti-bacterial products are, by necessity, too gentle to kill the strongest germs that we encounter.  The real "Catch 22" here is that the weaker germs that surround us are precisely the ones that challenge our immune systems without wreaking havoc.  The weaker germs create mild "practice infections," if you will.......they give our immune systems a workout without overwhelming us with disease.  As with so many things in life:  for our immune systems, practice helps make perfect, but we're wiping out the practice germs.

If this sounds familiar, it's because this is the same kind of ignorance that has gotten us into so much trouble with our antibiotics.  Overprescription and misuse of antibiotics has been a problem for decades, and now there are some very dangerous, extremely scary germs out there that have managed to mutate in such a way as to be resistant to every antibiotic that we know.

Next is the triclosan.  As I mentioned above, some version of triclosan is the active, anti-bacterial chemical in virtually all anti-bacterial products.  An interesting chemical reaction occurs when triclosan comes in contact with the chlorine in tap water.  Among other things, chloroform is made.  Yep, that's right ~ when your children finally do wash themselves (probably with an anti-bacterial soap!) after using these gels, lotions, wipes, etc., they make chloroform.......chloroform vapors rising up into their faces, liquid chloroform being absorbed through their skin and washing down the drain into the water supply.  Amounts of chloroform made as a result of this reaction are admittedly small.  However, in my opinion, quantifying the amount of chloroform made as a result of these activities only matters if you're under the impression that there is some acceptable amount of this chemical in yours or your children's lives.  I don't happen to think that there is.  You can control this particular source of toxicity.......why wouldn't you?

Finally, there is the lack of cleanliness.  Applying anti-bacterial gels or lotions to your hands doesn't clean them.  In fact, when the gels and lotions dry on your skin and become slightly sticky your skin becomes a magnet for more dirt.......right on top of the last layer of dirt and dead weak germs.  Eeewww!

Here's an idea:

First ~ Find a place to buy good ol' soap.......bars of soap, or liquid soap ~ it doesn't matter as long as it isn't anti-bacterial soap.  If you're really stuck for a good source of soap, visit The Soap Crone.  She makes dozens of wonderful, great smelling soaps.  You can order them online and have them delivered right to your door!  This couldn't be easier!

Then ~ put a bar or bottle of good ol' soap at every sink and tap in your house.

Next ~ teach your children to stand at the sink or tap several times each day and soap their hands up thoroughly.......make lots and lots of bubbles!  The soap needs to stay in contact with the skin for approximately 30 seconds.  It might help to have them sing a short song while they "play" with their soapy hands before rinsing.  Try "Happy Birthday" twice through, or "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" twice through, then rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Good clean fun!!

Before I close this post, I have to let you know that if this information has spurred you to action, you'll also want to be checking the labels on toothpaste, toothbrushes, sponges, toys, combs, brushes, some construction supplies used in home building, baby and childrens' furniture.......the list goes on & on.

Comments

[Scott]

Ooh! This anti-bacterial nonsense makes me so mad!

I'm so grateful that my Mom was so casual about hygiene (and that I grew up before big business got so good at scaring parents with pseudoscientific balderdash). I ate every germ in the neighborhood, my immune system got a vigorous workout, and now I'm healthy as an ox.

Nowadays I admit I don't wash my hands as often as I should. But when I do, I use SOAP and WATER, not anti-bacterial crap! (But really now, Julie, "if you're really stuck for a good source of soap?" I've never seen a supermarket, drugstore or big-box discounter that doesn't sell the stuff--including some that's not "anti-bacterial." But maybe it's better to support the Soap Crone rather than the same companies that are making the fraudulent AB products.) Anyway, thanks for the reminder to wash up--and not to buy all the bunk in the commercials!

[gregg]

Ninety percent of the cells in our bodies are not us. They are not human. Can you say bacteria? That's how life evolved. Think you could survive without it? Your skin is full of it. Get rid of the stuff your body is used to and what do you think will move in to take its place? Only ten percent of you is you. That is how it is supposed to be.

[Amy]

Scott,

Thanks for the shout out for supporting small, independent business! :)

Be careful in the grocery store--many of those "soaps" are actually detergent. It's the same stuff as in those antibacterial liquid soaps.

Using an old-fashioned soap is perfect for your skin--it gets rid of dirt, without stripping off your skin's oils. Of course, I prefer mine, but I'm biased. Whole Foods or Wild Oats also carry a wide selection of old-fashioned soaps in their bath and body section. Check 'em out.

Great blog, Julie!

[Dr. Julie]

BTW ~ Amy is The Olde Crone! Her link in in one of my Great Links posts.
JS