Antiseptic wipes are useful for preventing illness and infection when used properly. Read on for examples.
For Example:
Mr. Johnson has Strep Throat; a very common illness that is making him uncomfortable, but he's going to work anyway.On his way into work he coughs, covering his mouth with his hand as most of us do.Then he reaches out and opens the door with the same hand.Mr. Johnson has just deposited the Strep bacteria onto the handle of the door.
Next to arrive at the store is Mrs. Phillips, with her infant Stella.Mrs. Phillips opens the door by the handle, collecting the bacteria onto her hand.Moments later she reaches into the diaper bag for a cookie to give Stella.The germs are transferred onto the bag, and on to the cookie.Stella takes the cookie, getting bacteria on her hands and ingesting them with the cookie.
A week later Mrs. Phillips is taking Stella to the doctor.
If one our characters had carried a small stash of these little wipes and used them before eating or handling food and after coughing or sneezing it would have changed the outcome of our story completely.If Mr. Johnson used the wipes he would have had clean hands before touching the door, so there wouldn't have been Strep bacteria for Mrs. Phillips to pick up.If Mrs. Phillips had used the wipes she would have cleaned her hands (and little Stella's) before getting the cookie out, preventing the food from being contaminated.Either way, the baby would not have gotten sick.
The other use for antiseptic wipes is the one suggested by their presence in first aid kits.They are very handy for cleaning out small injuries before sticking on a bandage.It is a good idea to wipe cuts and scrapes with an antiseptic wipe even if you are applying an ointment, like Neosporin, to the wound.Infections can be terrible, and can come from the smallest neglected scrape, so every bit of help is valuable.Let us look at another example:
Bobby and his mother have gone to the park.Bobby is a rowdy little boy and often gets hurt.Today he falls off of the monkey-bars and scrapes his knee. Bobby cries for a minute, clutching at his little injury.Mother runs over to tend him, and applies a kiss and a bandage.Bobby then runs off to play again.
The bacteria in the wound now are from the gravel, Bobby's hands, and his mother's mouth.Several days later the little scrape is red and swollen, and Bobby says it hurts all the way to his toes.Bobby's little scrape is infected.
Once again, a few little antiseptic wipes would have changed the end of this story.If Bobby's mother had used one of the fabulous "no sting" antiseptic wipe just before sticking the bandage on, Bobby would have been at school a few days later, picking the scab and laughing about the fall.
Antiseptic wipes are available at most drug stores, through hundreds of electronic retailers, and at you doctors office.There are dozens of antiseptics to choose from, so do your research and ask you doctor what s/he recommends.
Antiseptic wipes are an efficient way to be clean and prevent illnesses when soap and water aren't available, but remember that they are NOT a replacement for soap and water.When you have access to a sink, use that instead.
