Disinfection yes One of the effective ways to block the spread of the virus, but unreasonable disinfection methods not only fail to kill the virus, but may cause harm to the body or the environment. Therefore, in the process of using disinfectants at home, there are some misunderstandings, please pay attention.

Misunderstanding 1, spraying alcohol indoors for disinfection.

When using alcohol indoors, avoid spray disinfection and ensure good ventilation. Use cleaning tools such as towels, rinse with clean water, and put them in a ventilated place to dry. Before use, remove the surrounding flammable and combustible materials and avoid open flames. Before sterilizing the surface of the electrical appliance, turn off the power and wait for the electrical appliance to cool before proceeding, otherwise it may cause deflagration. Smoking is strictly prohibited when using alcohol for disinfection.

Myth 2: Disinfectants are used without necessary protection.

Avoid skin, eyes, mouth and nose when using disinfectant, wear a mask, rubber gloves and a waterproof apron.

Misunderstanding 3, the concentration of disinfectant is too high or too low.

Many powerful disinfectants are highly irritating. Too high concentrations may harm the human body, and too low concentrations may be ineffective. The concentration of different disinfectants is different, and the dosage used is also different. The concentration must be configured according to the method in the manual.

Myth 4: Mixing different types of disinfectants.

The mixed use of two or more disinfectants can easily cause chemical reactions and may cause harm. 84 The chlorine gas produced by mixing disinfectant and alcohol will stimulate and damage the respiratory tract. When the concentration reaches 3000 mg/m3, it can cause death. 84 Disinfectant mixed with toilet cleaning agent will produce toxic gas, which will stimulate the throat, respiratory tract and lungs of the human body and cause poisoning. Laundry detergent should also not be mixed with disinfectants.

Myth 5: Use hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes instead of hand washing.

Hand sanitizer/disinfecting wipes contain bactericidal ingredients (mainly alcohol), which have a certain disinfection effect. However, it is often irritating and may cause allergic skin reactions.

If possible, wash your hands with running water as much as possible, in conjunction with soap or hand sanitizer.

Reference: China CDC Dynamic Disinfection, are you doing it right?

[author of this issue]

Zhang Yi, Attending Physician of Health Education Department of Shenyang Health Service Center Teacher, research direction is health education and health promotion.