Ok to be fair, this newsletter, may make you think of the Darwin Awards, shake your head or even use a sentence like “thinning the herd”; BUT there is more to it.
I can be a bit of a freak about germs out in public, door handles, shopping cart handles, public bathrooms, port- potties…oh don’t get me started! (Yet I DO let my kid’s use the 10-second rule on food they drop on the floor…okay maybe I am a hypocrite but let’s continue). So like many people I was excited to hear about waterless hand cleaners. They seem magic! Clear and you rub them into your hands, and the germs go away, and magically so does the gel. Ahh perfection, right?
Well recently in Maryland at least one inmate got to reading the sides of the hand sanitizer and saw that, it says alcohol on the side. The product in question was Purell and it is 70% alcohol. The inmate who is generally described as calm and quiet, suddenly was “’red-eyed,’ ‘loony,’ ‘combative,’ and ‘intoxicated, lecturing everyone about life’,” 1
The Maryland prison incident was detailed in the Feb. 1, 2007 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Hospital tests showed the inmate’s blood-alcohol level to be .33 percent.
He is not the only one, an alcoholic was also treated he had been hospitalized for chest pain and tests; and he drank some from the bathroom dispenser. He explained that since it had MORE alcohol content then Vodka, he couldn’t pass it up.
Now it is a different type of alcohol, but it can still give you alcohol poisoning. Authorities are now considering, the places to use it and supervision needed; and have expressed concern over teens trying it. Well I have a question, what about a small child? How much do you think it takes a small child to ingest from a small bottle you carry in your purse, diaper bag or car?
Alcohol poisoning may result from accidental ingestion, particularly among children:
-
Ethanol, for example, is found in alcoholic beverages as well as common household items such as after-shaves, colognes, perfumes, mouthwashes and medications.
-
Isopropyl alcohol is commonly found in rubbing alcohol, lotions, some cleaning products and antifreeze.
-
Methanol is found in items such as solvents, paints, varnishes, antifreeze and windshield washer fluid.
Signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:
-
Confusion, stupor
-
Vomiting
-
Seizures
-
Slow or irregular breathing
-
Blue-tinged skin or pale skin
-
Low body temperature (hypothermia)
-
Unconsciousness (”passing out”)
It is not necessary for all of these symptoms to be present before seeking help. A person who has become unconscious, or cannot be roused, is at risk of dying.
One simple solution (especially if you have small children) is to use a hand sanitizer wipe. I have some suggestions, get those that are biodegradable and make sure you know what all of the ingredients in the product are. For example, make sure it contains NO bleach of any kind.
Also, it is good to know what to do if you suspect alcohol poisoning. If you suspect that someone has alcohol poisoning, even if they don’t have all of the signs and symptoms, seek immediate medical care. If the person is unconscious, call 911 or your local emergency number. If the person is conscious, call 800-222-1222 and you will be automatically routed to your local poison control center. The staff at the poison control center or at the emergency call center can instruct you as to whether you should take the person directly to a hospital.
Do not leave an unconscious person alone. While waiting for help, do not try to make the person vomit. A person who has alcohol poisoning has an impaired gag reflex and may choke on his or her own vomit or accidentally inhale (aspirate) vomit into his or her lungs, which could cause lethal lung injury.
Tell hospital or emergency personnel, if you know, the type and quantity of alcohol the person ingested, and when. 2
-
-
Dr. Suzanne Doyon of the Maryland Poison Center and Dr. Christopher Welsh of the University of Maryland School of Medicine wrote in one letter.
-
from the MayoClinic.com
-
Please make your home safe, regardless of what products you choose because you are worth it!
