As the U.S. prepares for a possible second wave of H1N1 (”Swine Flu”), as well as for the annual scourge of seasonal flu and colds, a new report from Consumer Reports claims to be aimed at helping households prepare for, prevent and treat cold and flu symptoms safely and effectively. It even includes recommendations for what to pack in an emergency kit for a flu outbreak. Unfortunately, the venerable magazine made a mistake in its recommendations highlighted in a
news release this morning.
Under the subhead, “How to Prepare a Swine Flu Emergency Kit,” the magazine’s editors advise consumers to pack an emergency kit in advance in case the second wave of Swine Flu is severe enough to warrant home confinement. That list includes the following items with the error-laden entry appearing in
red:
- A two-week supply of food and water;
- Fever reducers, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen;
- Cough and cold medications containing chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, oxymetazoline, and pseudoephedrine and lozenges with dyclonine, glycerin, or honey can help ease symptoms;
- Electrolyte drinks, such as Gatorade or Powerade, to keep you hydrated;
- Hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol, such as Purell, to kill viruses when soap and water aren’t available; and
- Surgical masks with an FDA rating of at least N-95 to help prevent spreading the flu. Masks need to be replaced often and disposed of after use.
If only the folks at Consumer Reports had conducted a thorough review of products available in the marketplace today, they would have realized that
Alcohol-Free Foam Hand Sanitizer should appear on the list above.
Why? Because it kills well beyond the level of the leading alcohol-based hand sanitizers on the market (i.e., 99.999 percent kill rate against Staphylococcus aureus) and is three times more effective than the leading alcohol-based brands against Norovirus. Further still, it’s the only formula proven effective against both strains of the virus.
Though none of the hand sanitizers currently on the market can claim to kill every strain of the H1N1 virus, the active ingredient in
Alcohol-Free Foam Hand Sanitizer — benzalkonium chloride (BZK) — has been proven effective against H1N1 (”Swine Flu”), according to a
study conducted in Japan two years ago.
Unlike other hand sanitizer products which contain BZK,
Alcohol-Free Foam Hand Sanitizer maximizes its effectiveness via the use of a unique surfactant package that allows that ingredient to penetrate cell walls at a higher rate. And, again, it does it without alcohol, an ingredient that dries out the skin and can damage the skin with repeated use.
To learn more about
Alcohol-Free Foam Hand Sanitizer or make a purchase,
click here.
[Editor's Note: If you're Joel Keehn, senior editor at Consumer Reports, drop us a note, and we'll send you a free sample or two to test.]
Labels: H1N1 Swine Flu, Hand Sanitizer, Norovirus
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