Skip to main content

Advertising Disclaimer »

Main menu

  • Journals
    • Pediatrics
    • Hospital Pediatrics
    • Pediatrics in Review
    • NeoReviews
    • AAP Grand Rounds
    • AAP News
  • AAP Policy
    • Topic/Program Collections
    • Policy
  • Pediatric Collections
    • COVID-19
    • Racism and Its Effect on Pediatric Health
    • More Collections...
  • Multimedia
    • Video Abstracts
    • Pediatrics On Call Podcast
  • Alerts
    • Table of Contents
    • Insights
  • AAP Career Center
  • Subscribe
  • Other Publications
    • American Academy of Pediatrics

User menu

  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
American Academy of Pediatrics

AAP Gateway

Advanced Search

AAP Logo

  • Log in
  • My Cart
  • Journals
    • Pediatrics
    • Hospital Pediatrics
    • Pediatrics in Review
    • NeoReviews
    • AAP Grand Rounds
    • AAP News
  • AAP Policy
    • Topic/Program Collections
    • Policy
  • Pediatric Collections
    • COVID-19
    • Racism and Its Effect on Pediatric Health
    • More Collections...
  • Multimedia
    • Video Abstracts
    • Pediatrics On Call Podcast
  • Alerts
    • Table of Contents
    • Insights
  • AAP Career Center
  • Subscribe

Poison alert: Keep hand sanitizer out of children’s reach

Madeline Sturgeon, Editorial Intern
November 03, 2015
  • Parent Plus

Hand sanitizer can be a good way for kids to kill germs on their hands when soap and water aren’t available. But some youngsters are swallowing sanitizer, which can be dangerous.

Over the past five years, U.S. poison control centers have received nearly 85,000 calls about children drinking hand sanitizer. The number of calls increased almost 400% from 2010 to 2013.

Some hand sanitizers contain alcohol with concentrations ranging from 45% to 95%. It is the same alcohol found in beer, wine and other liquors. Drinking just two or three squirts can lead to alcohol poisoning, which causes confusion, vomiting, slow breathing, low body temperature or a bluish skin color. Anyone with alcohol poisoning needs medical help right away.

Some kids drink sanitizer to get drunk or on a dare from friends. Others drink sanitizer because it looks or smells tasty.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents and teachers use the same caution with hand sanitizer as with any other possibly poisonous item.

Here are some tips from poison centers to keep kids safe:

  • Store hand sanitizer out of children’s reach. Although a lick of sanitizer probably won’t make kids sick, they could swallow enough to cause alcohol poisoning.
  • Always monitor the use of sanitizer. Put a dime-sized amount on dry hands and have children rub their hands together until completely dry. Make sure youths do not put hands wet with sanitizer in their mouth.
  • Teach kids the right way to use sanitizer, so they use it safely in school or public places.
  • Consider using non-alcohol based products or sanitizing wipes.
  • If a child drinks sanitizer, immediately call the poison help line at 800-222-1222.

The good news is that hand sanitizer works to kill germs on hands. Just make sure it is stored out of children’s reach and is used according to the label.

Copyright © 2015, The American Academy of Pediatrics

Advertising Disclaimer »

Download PDF
Email News Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Academy of Pediatrics.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Poison alert: Keep hand sanitizer out of children’s reach
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Academy of Pediatrics
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Academy of Pediatrics web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Share
Keep hand sanitizer out of children’s reach
Madeline Sturgeon
November 03, 2015
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
  • Digital Edition Current Issue
  • Latest Daily News
  • Archives
  • Collections
  • Columns
  • Advertising
  • Subscribe to AAP News Magazine
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • 2021 AAP Journals Catalog
  • Pediatrics
  • Pediatrics in Review
  • Hospital Pediatrics
  • NeoReviews
  • AAP Grand Rounds
  • AAP Career Center
  • shopAAP
  • AAP.org
  • AAP News
  • Visit AAP News on Facebook
  • Follow AAP News on Twitter
American Academy of Pediatrics

© 2021 American Academy of Pediatrics