Hand sanitizer and fireworks could make for a dangerous July 4th. What you need to know
Using hand sanitizer could be a disaster waiting to happen this Fourth of July, officials say.
That’s because it contains alcohol, making it highly flammable and posing dangers to people who set off fireworks at the same time, according to the Greensboro Fire Department in North Carolina.
Anyone with sanitizer on their hands could get burns from fireworks, grills, camp fires or other open flames, according to Dee Shelton, fire and life safety educator with the department.
To reduce the risk of getting hurt, Shelton recommends people wash their hands with soap and water this holiday weekend.
If using hand sanitizer, people should make sure the skin is totally dry before using fireworks, the Hastings Tribune reported. Ron Pughes, emergency manager of Adams County in Nebraska, told the newspaper people should also make sure containers of the germ-killing substance are away from fireworks.
The guidance comes as health officials recommend people keep their hands clean to help protect against the coronavirus. When soap and water aren’t nearby, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol can be used, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been runs on hand sanitizer, prompting some stores to limit the amount people can purchase.
“Now that everybody’s using it, we need to think this through because it can be really dangerous,” Shelton told McClatchy News in a phone interview Tuesday.
Beyond the potential risks linked to hand sanitizer, Greensboro officials say handling fireworks can also lead to other injuries or property damage.
Across the country, towns and cities have halted public firework displays in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The cancellations and the financial boost from stimulus checks have led to booming firework sales leading up to this Independence Day, McClatchy News reported.
This story was originally published June 30, 2020 at 11:22 AM with the headline "Hand sanitizer and fireworks could make for a dangerous July 4th. What you need to know."
