H1N1 depletes consumer hand sanitizer supplies

AKRON – GOJO Industries Inc., the leading maker of consumer hand sanitizing gel products that makes Purell, says it cannot keep pace with orders for the hand sanitizer, even with its factories working 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Distributors are receiving increased shipments of Purell products, but not the quantities they ordered.

Mentor-based STERIS Corp. supplies hand and surface sanitizing equipment and supplies to more than 4,000 hospitals.

“We have increased production and increased inventory beyond historic levels,” said STERIS spokesman Steve Norton.

Besides supplying hospitals with sanitizing supplies, STERIS has introduced its “All Hands Clean” program, which audits hospitals for cleanliness, provides products and educational programs, and monitors hospitals for cleanliness compliance.

“Only about half of doctors and nurses wash their hands frequently before examining patients,” Norton said. “Careful health professionals tell us they wash their hands 60, 70, 80 times a day.”

Whether using a sanitizer or old-fashioned soap and water, experts advise washing thoroughly for at least 15 to 20 seconds, removing jewelry, and scrubbing beneath the fingernails when possible.

Educational videos on proper hand washing techniques are available at the government website flu.gov.

2009 WKYC-TV