Hand Hygiene: Hand Sanitizers Make Perfect Sense for Summer

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As summer unfolds and thoughts turn to vacations and the variety of outdoor activities that the season inspires, the need to use ethyl-alcohol (ethanol)-based hand sanitizers becomes critical, especially those made of eco-friendly ingredients. So cautions STOKO Skin Care, a world leader in the away-from-home skin care/hygiene market.  

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the single most important way to prevent the transmission of diseases is to frequently wash one’s hands with soap and water. But in the absence of hand-washing facilities, the CDC recommends the use of ethanol-based hand sanitizers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that hand sanitizers must contain at least 60% ethyl alcohol.

“Although data from the CDC indicate that reported cases of H1N1 influenza have leveled off, mirroring the typical cases of seasonal flu in the summer months, the need to continue the use of ethanol-based hand sanitizers has not decreased,” notes Lori Huffman, Marketing Manager. “Children attending summer camps and families on vacation should be vigilant about proper hand hygiene.”

Moreover, exposure to seasonal flu, summer colds and other respiratory infections, as well as the potential exposure to MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) from shared towels and sports equipment, creates the need for instant hand sanitizing products to be used frequently.

“And it is better for the environment when the products are eco-friendly – especially in the summer, when so many activities occur outdoors,” Huffman concludes.

Three environmentally friendly, ethanol-based instant hand sanitizers from STOKO Skin Care are especially suitable for use during the summer months:

• STOKO Gel Instant Hand Sanitizer (see photo) provides rapid germ-killing activity when hand-washing facilities are not readily available and hands are free of dirt or soil. It demonstrates a greater than 99% kill in 15 seconds or less against the most common antibiotic-resistant bacteria that cause illness, including MRSA and VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci). In addition, it contains a humectant that leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth after the product dries, and does not leave a tacky after-feel as emollient-containing formulations often do.

• STOKO Refresh Foaming Instant Hand Sanitizer kills common germs and bacteria without any water or wiping. Stringent tests reflect its bactericidal level efficacy. Patented technology enables STOKO Refresh Foaming Instant Hand Sanitizer to deliver thick, rich foam without the use of fluorinated chemicals, which can be damaging to the environment.

• CliniShield Instant Hand Sanitizer is specially formulated for healthcare professionals. It is effective against a broad spectrum of organisms associated with the most commonly occurring healthcare-acquired infections, including those listed in the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System Report. Its bacterial efficacy has been demonstrated in both in-vitro and in-vivo testing as specified by the FDA’s Tentative Final Monograph for health care antiseptic drug products. In addition, it also contains a humectant that leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth after the product dries.

STOKO Skin Care instant hand sanitizers are formulated using a large percentage of renewable, sustainable materials and ingredients, in keeping with the company’s underlying commitment to producing environmentally responsible products.

“STOKO Skin Care has been an industry pioneer in the use of natural ingredients, such as the use of castor oil in several of our heavy-duty products,” notes Ron Shuster, Product Line Director. “Our R&D department works diligently to include natural ingredients to increase the greening of our products while at the same time improving skin compatibility. This includes the sanitizers we offer. STOKO Skin Care sanitizers are eco-friendly, meeting the BioPreferredSM standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.”

STOKO instant hand sanitizers have been independently tested and found to meet USDA criteria for “biobased” products, thus attaining BioPreferredSM status. The USDA defines “biobased” as commercial or industrial products (other than food or feed) that are composed in whole or in significant part, of biological products, renewable agricultural materials, or forestry materials. Biobased products are quickly replacing petroleum-based products.