What Happens If You Ingest Hand Sanitizer
You know that little bottle of hand sanitizer you keep in your car, your purse, or right next to your front door? Yeah, most of us have probably used it dozens of times a day...
You know that little bottle of hand sanitizer you keep in your car, your purse, or right next to your front door? Yeah, most of us have probably used it dozens of times a day without ever thinking about what it would be like to actually drink it. Spoiler alert: it's not exactly a refreshing cocktail.
We use it everywhere now — after groceries, before lunch, even just because the weather feels germ-y. But have you ever wondered what would actually happen if someone accidentally ingested it? Let's break it down in the easiest way possible.
The Main Ingredient Thatcauses Trouble
Most hand sanitizers get their superpowers from alcohol — specifically isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol. Think of it as the same stuff you'd find in rubbing alcohol, except scented and squishy in a bottle. That high alcohol content, usually around 60% to 70%, is what makes it great for killing germs and terrible for your stomach.
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So imagine accidentally taking a swig of rubbing alcohol. Doesn't sound appetizing, right? That's roughly what we're talking about when you ingest hand sanitizer.
Hand Sanitizers: A Review on Formulation Aspects, Adverse Effects, and
What Happens to Your Body?
The first thing you'd probably notice is a burning sensation — your mouth, throat, and stomach lining would not be happy campers. Think of it like drinking something way too spicy, except the heat doesn't fade and your tummy starts to feel like it's been through a war.
After that, nausea and vomiting tend to kick in pretty quickly. Your body is essentially saying, "Hey, this is not food. Get it out!" and doing whatever it takes to expel the culprit.
Children Getting Drunk Off Hand Sanitizer
Some people might also experience dizziness or confusion because the alcohol enters your bloodstream rapidly. It's not the fun kind of buzz you get after a couple of celebratory glasses of champagne, trust me.
The Sachids Small A Touching Story
Here's a little story that happened to my friend's three-year-old last year. Toddler picked up the sanitizer bottle, thought it was candy gel because of the fun shape and fruity name on the label, and took a tiny lick. A licky-inch toss.
