Back-To-School Brings Germs, Parental Worries

Pencils, crayons, sandwich bags, and hand sanitizer -- all are typical supplies found on many back-to-school lists. But one item on that list may cause parents and teachers to pause. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer and accidental ingestion of the product have been the subject of recent news reports, highlighting the need for parental supervision.

One leading brand is responding with sound advice -- and a new, effective alternative. Germ-X is launching a new, non-alcohol-based, foaming hand sanitizer -- Germ-X Advanced Protection. The product will be available in Wal-Mart stores starting in late August and in other retailers this winter.

"We urge parents and teachers to treat hand sanitizers as they would any other household product and supervise young children while using them," said Mark Gershenson, senior vice president of marketing for Vi-Jon Laboratories. "For those families looking for an alternative to alcohol-based formulas, Germ-X Advanced Protection provides a new alternative to keep their children healthy."

Germ-X Advanced Protection is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial hand sanitizer that kills 99.99 percent of many common germs and bacteria in as little as 15 seconds. The formula contains 0.13 percent benzalkonium chloride, an active ingredient that is widely used in a variety of concentrations. It is commonly used in eyewashes as a preservative, in hand washes as an antiseptic, and in surface cleaners as a disinfectant.

Germ-X Advanced Protection has a light, clean feel and a fresh scent. It will retail for a suggested price of $2.87 at Wal-Mart stores nationwide.

All Germ-X hand sanitizers are designed to be part of healthy hand hygiene program. Washing hands with soap and water or using a hand sanitizer can reduce the chance of infection by killing many common germs and bacteria that can cause illness. Studies from the American Journal of Infection Control show hand sanitizers are effective in curbing absentee rates in elementary schools and reducing illnesses in university dormitories.

Germ-X offers a complete line of antibacterial soaps, sanitizers, and soft wipes for the health of your family.