Next time you use that hand sanitizer, make sure that you can safely use it without setting your hands on fire. The United States Department of Defense (DoD) with the Fort Jackson Safety Office has been reminding servicemen and women to be safe when using hand sanitizers as warned by the FDA in report by Health.mil.

What they recommend is that it is best to wash hands with soap and water and use hand sanitizers when there is no access to the former as hand sanitizers are pocketable. They also need to be aware of their immediate environment when using hand sanitizers.

The Safety Office distributed an FDA bulletin on the hazards of using hand sanitizers, “an employee at Department of Energy Federal Contractors Group used an alcohol-based hand sanitizer as advised by hygiene recommendations. Shortly after the application to his hands, but before the liquid disinfectant had evaporated and completely dried, the employee touched a metal surface which accumulated a static electrical charge, resulting in an ignition source. The ethyl-alcohol based disinfectant flashed, resulting in an almost invisible blue flame on both hands.”

Health authorities recommend using hand sanitizers that have 60% ethanol or ethyl alcohol content when looking for these products.

Purell Instant Hand Sanitizer in FST Military Bottle

Ron Ross, safety manager with Fort Jackon’s Installation Safety Office urged the community to take extra care because “any incident is one too many.” He stresses that, “We can never be too cautious, please exercise vigilance when using these gel sanitizers to ensure it is completely evaporated before touching any metal object and or other items that often harbor static electricity.”

The FDA warns people should avoid using hand sanitizers that contain high levels methanol or wood alcohol that is used in anti-freeze and fuel. Methanol is a toxic substance and that when absorbed through the skin can cause nausea, nerve damage and blindness. It is fatal if ingested.

The FDA has an updated list of products to avoid and if you are not from the U.S. please check with your local health authorities if they have a list of products that may have dangerous levels of methanol.

Top photo: A service woman at a hand sanitizer dispenser (DoD photo)