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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. 01 Why do alcohol hand sanitizers cause drying and cracking of the skin?
A. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers contain ethanol or isopropanol, or a combination of these two products with a moisturizer that is intended to “mask” the smell of alcohol and minimize irritation to the skin. However, all alcohol-based sanitizers strip away the outer layer of oil on the skin, thereby destroying any "transient" microorganisms present on the surface of the hands. However, stripping away the protective layer of oil the skin damages skin and results in painfully dry and cracked hands.
Q. 02 Why should you use SafeHands Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizers vs. alcohol based sanitizers?
A. Alcohol-based products and SafeHands® alcohol-free products are only similar in their ability to immediately and effectively kill germs. However, SafeHands kills 99.9999% of germs versus alcohol’s 99.99%. In addition, multiple uses of alcohol-based products result in bacteria accumulating in cracks and fissures in the skin. In SafeHands independent studies, it was proven that the more alcohol-based products are applied to the hands, “the more contaminated the hands become”. Finally, flammability of alcohol is another serious side effect of all alcohol-based products. In fact, SafeHands can be used to extinguish alcohol-based flames (see testing)!
Q. 03 Why is there a market need for alcohol-free instant sanitizers vs. alcohol-based?
A. In March 2005, Proctor & Gamble entered the alcohol-free market introducing the Crest ProHealth™ alcohol-free mouthwash touting that the product kills germs like Listerine,® but without the “painful sting of alcohol.” For the first time, the stinging-Listerine brand actually lost some substantial market share to the Crest non-alcohol product.
Q. 04 How does SafeHands validate superior performance over alcohol-based products?
A. The harmful side effects of alcohol-based vs. alcohol-free instant hand sanitizers were validated in studies published in October 1998 by Dr. David Dyer in the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) journal. The studies compared an alcohol-based versus an alcohol-free to show the damaging effects of alcohol and the decreased germ-killing rate with multiple uses. In 2005-2006, SafeHands invested in an extensive third-party clinical study at the University of California, Fresno confirming earlier testing.
Q. 05 Is SafeHands a registered trademark?
A. Yes, this powerful brand received its registered trademark (“circle R”) and the following applies:
“Certificate of Registration” (No. 2,865,360) was received on July 20, 2004;
International Class 3 - Goods and Services; LIQUID HAND, FACE AND BODY SOAP; HAIR LOTIONS; BODY LOTIONS; HAND CARE PRODUCTS, NAMELY, SKIN CREAMS;
International Class - SANITIZING MEDICATED HAND WASH;
International Class 2 - SOAP DISPENSERS;
International Classes 3,5,21 and 41 - EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, NAMELY, CONDUCTING CLASSES AND SEMINARS IN THE FIELD OF HAND CARE TREATMENT.
Q. 06 Is SafeHands a proprietary formula and, if so, was it clinically tested?

A. SafeHands has developed a proprietary Benzalkonium Chloride formula the company believes is superior to all instant hand sanitizers on the market. The following detailed clinical in-vitro and in vivo studies on the SafeHands proprietary formula were performed at University of California Fresno’s research and development laboratories.

  • Glove-Juice tests to evaluate SafeHands alcohol-free efficacy vs. alcohol-based
  • The drying effects inherent to alcohol-based products vs. SafeHands,
  • Testing alcohol’s flammability vs. the non-flammability of SafeHands alcohol-free
  • Demonstrating that SafeHands alcohol-free foamer delivers 2-3 times more applications per ounce then alcohol gel products
Q. 07 Are SafeHands manufacturing plants FDA approved and ISO 9002 certified?
A. SafeHands manufacturing partnership with the world’s leading manufacturer of hygiene, sanitizing and disposable products for the commercial transportation industry provides the company, among other things, with the most competitive pricing, fast turnaround times, high-volume production, warehousing and worldwide “just-in-time” shipping. Celeste’s U.S. manufacturing facility is located outside Baltimore, MD and they have a presence in the European market through their manufacturing facility outside London, England. Utilizing Celeste’s manufacturing in the European markets provides SafeHands with a “turn-key” opportunity to sell its products in Europe.
Q. 08 What is the FDA’s position on alcohol-based versus
alcohol-free instant hand sanitizers?
A. In June, 2005, after a 12-year absence of announcements, the FDA released information that they will be developing a monograph and approving “Rinse-less Hand Sanitizers,” but only with products containing active ingredients alcohol or Benzalkonium Chloride (SafeHands' formulation contains the latter).
Q. 09 Why should SafeHands products be used in healthcare facilities?
A. Ongoing information released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) continues to increase the awareness of improper hand hygiene (hand washing). In the November 2003 Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Robert A. Weinstein states, “Hands are the most dangerous things in the hospital!” According to the CDC, awareness in hospitals is low and countless studies have documented health care nurses and doctors only wash their hands 15-30% of the necessary time. The CDC estimated that there are more than 90,000 deaths annually in the United States alone due to nosocomial infections (hospital-acquired infections) at an estimated cost of $6-10 million/year. In a July 18, 2005 article in Wall Street Journal entitled “Pennsylvania Finds High Toll In Hospital-Acquired Infections,” a first-of-it's-kind study was performed by the Pennsylvania state agency that found 11,668 hospital-acquired infections associated with 1,793 deaths, 205,000 extra hospital days and $2 billion in additional charges in 2004. These findings came from 173 hospitals across Pennsylvania. The article further stated, “There is no reason to think that Pennsylvania hospitals are any better or worse at controlling infections than other states. Extrapolating from the Pennsylvania data to the rest of the country suggests that more than 125 people a day are dying from hospital-acquired infections with the associated $50 billion of related hospital charges every year!” The CDC states that the leading cause of hospital-acquired infections are poor hand sanitation practices.
Q. 10 Why is SafeHands superior to all alcohol-based
instant hand sanitizers?
A. SafeHands' proprietary alcohol-free products are non-irritating to the skin, non-toxic, non-skin drying, and nonflammable. SafeHands is lethal to germs yet gentle to the skin, and also has a pleasant aroma. The germ-killing activity actually increases the more frequently the product is used throughout the day. This compares favorably against alcohol products, which are drying and cause cracks and fissures in your skin that act as bacteria traps. SafeHands is offered in 0.75-ounce liquid spray, 2-ounce foamer, in kits and packaged in gallon sizes from 1 gallon to 225-gallon totes. Therefore, hands washed with alcohol products have proven to be more susceptible to contamination. The SafeHands alcohol-free product kills 99.99% of disease causing germs and fungi in 15 seconds, including SARS, free-living bacteria such as TB, E-coli, and Salmonella, as well as antibiotic-resistant VRE, RSA and viruses, including HIV and Hepatitis A & B. This product is sold in single use disposable packets; pocket size and various other bottles, in addition to wall-mount dispensers and bulk containers.
Q. 11 Why is SafeHands in the consumer market, schools,
gyms and many other markets?
A. The media spot light places SafeHands® Alcohol-Free Instant Hand Sanitizers in a position to be the world’s most comprehensive preventive action for away-from-the-sink hand sanitation (i.e. in classrooms and in cafeterias). According a CDC study, 70% of all Americans admit they don't clean their hands as often as they should. Charles P. Gerba, Ph.D., professor of Environmental Microbiology at the University of Arizona and nationally renowned microbiologist, stated, "This survey should concern us all, because germy hands are the number one way people get sick. More than 80% of all infections are spread by hand contact, either by touching another person or touching an object that has germs, which can be any object at all.” Dr. Gerba also noted, "If more people took the simple step of cleaning their hands more often, we could significantly decrease the spread of germs in America, especially during the winter months." The survey also asked Americans how worried they are about picking up germs, how important it is to them that others clean their hands, and how often they clean their hands in a variety of situations, such as after using the bathroom or after coughing or sneezing.
Q. 12 Why is SafeHands in food service?
A. The CDC states that the lack of hand sanitation is the leading cause of 72 million food borne illness cases each year, which results in an estimated 300,000 hospitalizations. Economic impact of food safety on these service industries and brand value in particular is dramatic, with the average direct costs of each food-borne incident in excess of $100,000. This amount excludes any short-term or long-term impact from negative publicity on brand values. Recently, all high profile chains have focused substantial resources in evaluating and maintaining food safety and brand-name protection. This is a critical issue that will be a permanent line in Corporate America’s budgets on a going-forward basis

Based on existing National Restaurant Association research, food handlers wash their hands only 30% of the frequency required by procedures recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In the October 2003 issue of NRA Magazine, President of Burger King Brands Chris Closer discussed the need for improved hand care and sanitation. He stated, “Right now there is nothing more important to us than proper food safety practices.” In the same issue, the director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety Joseph Levitt stated, “Our main consumer message is that people need to take proper precautions, just like they do when they get in their cars and fasten their seatbelts,” and “We need to increase our vigilance by number one, keeping our hands clean.”

In January 2004, public health officials for the FDA released updated guidelines requiring management at all food-service-related facilities to implement systems that focus on improved hand washing. According to the NRA, Florida and Maryland, with other states will be mandating food safety and handwashing training and certification. The NRA believes over 90% of all states will have passed similar food safety training laws by 2007.

The hospitality industry is now the largest retail industry employer in the country, employing more than 10 million men and women. Approximately 8 million of these employees handle food and require SafeHands products. The U.S. Department of Labor further reports that an additional 1.75 million new food-service positions will be created during the next decade. This results in an annual growth rate that is significantly larger than any other sector of the retail industry.

 

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