Regular hand washing is recommended by both the WHO and the NHS as one of the most effective ways of controlling infections.   Using a hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available is also a good idea.

An alcohol-free hand sanitizer, like SOAPOPULAR recently launched in the UK, can be the first line of defence against the spread of swine flu, claims its Canadian manufacturers.   Says Steven Orrett, CEO of SOAPOPULAR inc, "The best defense is proper hand hygiene and hand washing - where water is not present or available, using SOAPOPULAR is the best option for not only killing germs that you come in contact with, but stopping the spread of viruses and infectious diseases."

SOAPOPULAR differs from most hand sanitizers currently available in the UK in that it does not use alcohol as its main active ingredient, making it a safer option for children with paranoid parents.   Instead of alcohol, it contains an ammonium compound called Benzalkonium Chloride (BAC), which parents know little about so they are less concerned, and clinical research shows it  destroys 99.9% of germs in 15 seconds including avian flu, SARS, influenza A2 and H1N1 virus.

SOAPOPULAR carries both FDA and Health Canada approvals making it the popular choice for families, corporations, and health professionals in the United States and Canada. MHRA approval to market in the UK has also been granted and SOAPOPULAR is currently being successfully trialed at a number of primary schools in Wales.

If you are that concerned that you won't have soap and water, it is available in 100 ml and 250 ml bottles or as a unique pen dispenser which fits conveniently into a school bag or handbag.   The 10 ml pen dispenses a minimum of 100 sprays of bug busting spray for GBP1.69. Available from independent pharmacies and on line from http://www.soapopular.co.uk