Health
Message Board
  • From: craftymom925
  •   To: All
  • 1 of 2
  • 9/17/08
I am a school nurse in an elementary school where we have about 10 children with serious food allergies.  We currently sit them at a seperate table from the population with any of their friends that don't have offending foods in their lunches.  After lunch the children are all given wipes to wash their hands before going out to play and the tables are washed down.

My question is:  May we use an alcohol based hand gel on the childrens' hands instead of wipes?

Thank you,
Sincerely,
Karen
  • From: _ABCNewsMedUnit_
  •   To: craftymom925
  • 2 of 2
  • 9/18/08

*****FROM ABC NEWS MEDICAL UNIT*****

 

Hi Karen and thank you for your question. Here's an answer from David W. Hauswirth, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor--Medicine and Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at The Ohio State University/Nationwide Children's Hospital:

Based on studies done looking specifically at peanut protein on tables and hands, hand wipes were better at removing the peanut protein. The antibacterial hand sanitizer used in these experiments did not completely remove all of the peanut protein on hands. Commercial wipes, liquid and bar soap all removed the peanut. Nothing, water only and hand sanitizer left a trace of peanut on hands. Hope this helps.

 

NOTE: Top medical experts on allergy answer questions like these on the OnCall+ Allergy: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Allergies.

 

*****FROM ABC NEWS MEDICAL UNIT*****
 
 
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