Safety in the use and conservation of gels and hydroalcoholic solutions

The Spanish Medicines Agency (AEMPS) has published a series of tips of great interest these days for the proper use and conservation of gels and hydroalcoholic solutions.

The gels and hydroalcoholic solutions, if they are biocidal in nature, must include on their labeling in an easily identifiable manner the risks and advice for their use, with an easily identifiable pictogram indicating that they may be dangerous and that they are flammable. Also indicating that, due to their high ethanol content, they can cause serious eye irritation and are toxic if ingested. They must also establish a series of indications of the nature of the risk and advice for its use and conservation. 

For all these reasons, the AEMPS has developed a series of tips to handle them correctly and be able to take the appropriate precautions for their conservation:

• Avoid applying gels and hydroalcoholic solutions to sensitive or damaged areas of the skin and mucous membranes.
• Keep gels and hydroalcoholic solutions always away from heat sources such as hot surfaces, direct sunlight, open flames, sparks or any ignition source.
• Avoid smoking immediately after using these gels and solutions or in places where they are stored.
• Store them in a well-ventilated and cool place, avoiding spaces where significant temperature changes occur.
• In case of contact with eyes, rinse them with plenty of water for several minutes. If irritation persists, consult a doctor.
• If swallowed, immediately call the Toxicology Information Service or go to an emergency doctor.

In this line and to offer helpful information to our mutual members fromFraternidad-Muprespa we want to collaborate and also inform you of the basic steps to carry out correct hand hygiene and how informative support material has been prepared: two videos and an infographic have been prepared with the instructions to follow for a correct washing.

The infographic called Safety is in your hands collects recommendations for how to wash your hands properly with water and/or hydroalcoholic solution. For their part, the videos titled Hand hygiene with soap and Hand hygiene with hydroalcoholic solution can help to know in detail how to properly wash as an everyday preventive measure.