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Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care |
Ministère de la Santé et des Soins de longue durée |
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Public Health Branch Telephone: (416) 327-7392 |
Direction de la santé publique Téléphone: (416) 327-7392 |
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January 14, 2005
Memorandum To: Mr. Dennis Brown
Re: The use of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers
in Schools - Update
This letter is to replace the one written on April 20, 2004, on matters related
to hand hygiene in the Ontario school system, reflecting a thorough assessment
of the evidence for the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers in the school
setting.
Hand hygiene is the single most important means of preventing transmission of
communicable diseases and consistent practice should be reinforced at an early
age. The usual method of hand hygiene is washing hands with soap and running
water. The use of alcohol-based sanitizers is an accepted alternative or an
added measure of protection, depending on the circumstances and the setting.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers were originally developed for use in the
healthcare environment, to reduce disease transmission in a fast-paced
environment where health care workers have limited time available to wash their
hands thoroughly with soap and water. Increasingly it is being promoted in other
settings, such as in programs developed by the US Centres for Disease Control,
for use at home, at work and at school. (See:
www.cdc.gov/germstopper/home_work_school.htm )
In the school system, hand-washing with soap and water should
still be vigorously promoted after washroom use, or if there is visible dirt on
the hands (which may occur, for example, after playing in the school yard.)
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers in schools should only be used under adult
supervision, especially in situations when running water is not available, such
as in the classroom, after a student coughs or sneezes, in the cafeteria prior
to eating, or during school trips.
The use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers in schools should be implemented after
careful planning that involves consultation with local public health units. Fire
safety officers should be consulted regarding proper location of alcohol
dispensers and storage of the hand gel to minimize the fire hazard.
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to give an update on this matter.
Erika Bontovics MD CIC MFPH
Senior Infection Control Consultant
Public Health Branch
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