Safety Information

In a recent study sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology and the American Cleaning Institute, 93% of women washed their hands as compared to 77% of men.

Overall though, despite gender, the public has increased awareness of hand hygiene. 85% of adults washed their hands in public restrooms in 2010, compared with 77% in the year 2007.

Observers who recorded the data stood in the bathroom combing their hair or pretending to put on make-up.

A proper handwashing technique prevents infection and spread of germs.

• Using a hand soap, lathering and rub hands together for at least 20 seconds.
• Rinse hands thoroughly.
• Dry hands with paper towels.

Hands should be washed before and after touching or preparing food, after coughing or sneezing, after using the bathroom, and before and after interacting with the elderly or sick.

Although the occurrence of incidents involving kids consuming cleaning products has decreased over the years, it is important to continue staying safe. Here are some safety tips for storing cleaning products out of harm’s reach.

1. Keep cleaning products in cabinet that can lock, or install safety latches .
2. Keep cleaning products in the original package with correct labels.
3. Be especially careful to properly store away trigger spray bottles that children can operate.
4. Supervise children at all times.

Of course, accidents do happen!

If you think your child has ingested something poisonous, call your area’s poison control center — (800) 222-1222 immediately. They can provide further instructions on how to handle the situation.

Could cleaning supplies be a cause for breast cancer?

A recent study has linked some cleaning product usage to breast cancer.  The study does not necessarily mean that cleaning products have a direct cause and effect relationship with cancer.

Generally, the cleaning products that may be problematic were air fresheners and products that were used for mold and mildew control.

What is most interesting about the research done is that the as was recognized. For instance, Julia Brody, who performed the study, spoke about how the psychological factors may be influencing those diagnosed with breast cancer.

“When women are diagnosed with breast cancer, they often think about what happened in the past that might have contributed to the disease. As a result, it may be that women with breast cancer more accurately recall their past product use or even over-estimate it. Or, it could also be that experience with breast cancer influences beliefs about its causes. For example, women diagnosed with breast cancer are less likely to believe heredity contributes ‘a lot’, because most are the first in their family to get the disease.”

More research is required to have bias-free data.

Another topic for Safety Month related to workplace safety, is healthcare associated infection (HAI). Kimberly-Clark has partnered with doctors and healthcare providers to provide training to prevent HAIs. They created a website to spread awareness about the campaign, titled “Not On My Watch” at http://www.HAIwatch.com.

HAI Facts

1. Some of the major problems associated with HAIs are ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP), surgical site infections (SSIs), and cross contamination or contact transfer.
2. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at any given time, 1.4 million people suffer from infections they acquired while being treated in hospitals, all across the globe.
3. HAIs cost an estimated $6.7 billion annually to healthcare facilities.
4. HAIs often lead to longer hospital stays, adding a considerable amount to the cost of caring for each patient.

Prevent latex exposure and allergies in the workplace! For National Safety Month, here is some information about workplace safety. Many people are allergic t0 latex gloves, but there are alternatives available.  Latex is the major ingredient in most rubber products, and is made from the tree Hevea brasiliensis.

3 Facts about Latex Allergies

1. Up to 5 to 10% of healthcare workers develop latex allergy as a result of repeated exposure to products containing latex in the workplace.
2. The decreased use of powdered latex gloves (most latex gloves are now non-powdered) seems to have caused less latex allergies in healthcare professionals.
3. When wearing latex gloves, do not use oil-based hand creams or lotions. Oil-based products can can cause latex gloves to deteriorate.

When possible, choose gloves that are made from an alternative material, such as vinyl gloves. Workplaces should provide safety information about latex allergies and how to prevent and handle them.

In honor of Hurricane Preparedness Week, I have put together a checklist of items to include in a Hurricane Preparation Kit. Keep this hurricane preparation kit handy once you have put your supplies together. One hurricane supply kit can be placed in your home, as well as putting one in each of your vehicles in case you become stranded somewhere during a storm.

1. Bottled water and non-perishable food items
2. Medication and other personal items
3. Airtight resealable ziploc bags
4. Disposable paper plates
5. Disposable cutlery
6. Flashlight
7. Batteries
8. Cell phone charger and cell phone
9. Personal identification
10. Credit cards, cash

For more information on hurricanes, visit the National Hurricane Center. Don’t delay! Preparing for hurricane season is important for you and your family’s safety. Educating yourself on hurricane and other disaster preparation may save you and your loved ones from harm. Make sure to update your hurricane safety kit annually (for medications and personal items).

What else would you recommend including in a hurricane or emergency supply kit?

Flood Recovery Supplies include Mops and Buckets

With the rise of recent flooding disasters, it is important to know how to properly clean up after flooding to prevent water damage and mold. Once the flood waters have receded and you are no longer taking in water in your basement, assess the flood damage and start the recovery process.

Tips for Basement Flood Cleanup and Recovery

Turn off electricity and power supply.

Since water conducts electricity faster than air, flooding could lead to electric shocks and electrocution.

Get rid of flood water by draining and mopping.

For major flooding, a sump pump may be required to get rid of water. Remaining water can be cleaned up with wet and dry vacs. Floor mops and wringers are also useful for cleaning up wet floors. Once you’re down to the floor and can’t soak up any more water, use an air moving floor fan to dry out the basement floor faster.

Spic and Span Floor Cleaner with Bleach

Prevent mold and mildew by cleaning floors with bleach.

Prevent mold and mildew by cleaning the floor with a floor cleaner that has bleach. Spic and Span Floor Cleaner with Bleach is a powder floor cleaner that will sanitize floors while it cleans.

Don’t get caught unprepared for your next flood clean up, or replace cleaning supplies from your last flood disaster. Buy Flood Recovery Supplies from CleaningProductsWorld.com.

An article on CNN.com caught my eye this morning claiming that disinfectants (like antibiotics) can end up strengthening those dreaded “superbugs.”

“Researchers grew a bacteria associated with hospital-acquired infections in the presence of a common disinfectant and found that the bacteria became 12 times less susceptible to the disinfectant.

But they also found that the same bacteria became 256 times more resistant to a widely used antibiotic — ciprofloxacin — even though the bacteria had never been exposed to it.”

You know how your doctors are getting stingy with antibiotics? I really hope the grocery store doesn’t stop selling Lysol and Simple Green!

What's inside some of our favorite cleaning products no longer the mystery it used to be

Looking for the ingredients in your cleaning products may now be much easier  thanks to the folks at SC Johnson & Co.  Nine months ago the company, who’s brand portfolio includes Nature’s Source, Windex, Scrubbing Bubbles, Drano, Fantastik, Glade, Pledge, Shout and many more, launched a website to host the ingredient list for all of its products. This type of website and this type of transparency is the first of its kind in an industry that has come under much flack recently for products containing potentially harmful chemicals.

To date, there are over 200 products listed on the site, WhatsInsideSCJohnson.com,  including 126 air care products and 76 home cleaning products manufactured by SC Johnson. Additionally, there are explanations of all 169 ingredients found in these products.  You can search for the product lists by name or by use, making finding which ever product you are looking for a breeze.

Kudos to SC Johnson for their innovative and groundbreaking efforts in encouraging product transparency and for letting the public know what you’re made of. We hope other major manufacturers will soon follow suite!

Can I clean while pregnant?

Whether this is your first time pregnant or you’re expecting the 5th addition to your family, one question you may have during your pregnancy is whether or not you can clean while pregnant?

In answering this question, keep in mind the basic principal of safe pregnancy – anything you come into contact with your baby is potentially exposed to it as well. Your child’s development (especially during Trimesters One & Two) is crucial, extremely sensitive, and no two women’s pregnancies are the same.

In general, it is safe to clean with GREEN, NATURAL cleaners
With lots of cleaners these days claiming to be green & natural, the most important feature to look for is a NON-TOXIC cleaner. Take a quick look at the ingredients list on the label and if there is anything you wouldn’t feel safe exposing your baby to, ask for someone’s assistance on that task. Two chemicals that most doctors agree will NOT cause harm to either your or your child are ammonia and chlorine.

Wear elbow-length gloves and a breathing mask while cleaning
The gloves will protect your body from anything that could potentially get into your skin in the area that will most likely have the most exposure to the products while cleaning. The breathing mask (the ones worn by painters and in hospitals) will help filter the air.

If you decide to hire a cleaning company, make sure they are using GREEN, NATURAL cleaners as well
Just because someone else is doing the physical work for you, doesn’t mean you can’t still be exposed to the harsh fumes and residues left behind long after the cleaners have left. Make sure all of the window cleaners, carpet cleaners, disinfectants, aerosols, & air fresheners the company uses are non-toxic and free of harsh chemicals. For a listing of green cleaners, visit the International Janitorial Cleaning Services Association’s Directory of Green Cleaning Services.

Please remember, these are recommendations for the average pregnancy, but you should always speak with your doctor about conditions relating to you specifically. For a listing eco-friendly cleaners, please visit the Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products section of CleaningProductsWorld.com.