When Should I Use Hand Sanitizer Outdoors
Recent guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available. There are many times you should use hand sanitizer, such as before and after touching a surface other people have touched. It’s also wise to use sanitizer after you’ve pushed a cart around a store, after filling your vehicle with fuel, after handling money, and after touching elevator buttons or door handles.
Always wash your hands (with either soap and water or hand sanitizer) after each time you cough and sneeze. In many cases, hand sanitizer is the only option when enjoying the outdoors. If your park, playground or other outdoor recreation area has an outdoor hand sanitizer station, use it frequently while at the park.
Additional Guidelines From CDC on Hand Sanitizer
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Supervise young children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing alcohol, especially in schools and childcare facilities.
- Apply. Put enough product on hands to cover all surfaces.
- Rub hands together, until hands feel dry. This should take around 20 seconds.
- Do not rinse or wipe off the hand sanitizer before it’s dry; it may not work as well against germs.
Outdoor hand sanitizer stations from GameTime make it easy to provide hand sanitizer for park and playground visitors
Reducing the Spread of Germs with Hand Sanitizer
Following the CDC guidance can help keep hands clean before, during, and after play and reduce the spread of germs. You can read the full set of guidelines from the CDC and download a copy of their fact sheet. To learn more about GameTime's outdoor hand sanitizer stations, contact the GameTime representative in your neighborhood.
