Q. Aside from fact that Hy5 is equally, if not more effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens when compared to alcohol-based hand sanitizer products, and that our foam format is actually 2x-3x more cost effective when compared to alcohol-gel products, why use Hy5 brand alcohol-free, rinse free, fragrance free hand sanitizers vs. traditional alcohol-based products?
 
A.
i. When recognizing that proper hand hygiene is the best way to mitigate exposure to cold and flu, and the spread of germs, bacteria and viruses, we believe that washing with soap (non-antimicrobial) and water is the first line of defense. But we find ourselves in situations where washing with soap and water isn't convenient and according to the CDC, use of hand sanitizers is recommended in those instances.

There are two choices to make when selecting a hand sanitizer. The legacy, alcohol-based, icky and flammable gel type products, which are toxic, destructive to protective skin cells, irritating to the skin, and otherwise funny smelling; or alternative, non-alcohol products such as Hy5 alcohol-free, rinse-free and fragrance-free hand sanitizer .

Hy5's soft foam hand sanitizer formula works better than alcohol-based gels; our rinse-free formulas are well-documented with regard to 99.99% effectiveness at killing a wide spectrum of pathogens. Unlike alcohol-based products, Hy5 is non-irritating, penetrates dirt (alcohol does not) and Hy5 provides extended persistency.

ii.

Hy5's formula provides antibacterial and antiseptic features, and is hypoallergenic; it can be safely applied to scrapes and cuts without causing sting.

iii. Unlike alcohol-based products within both consumer and institutional settings (Purell, GermX and others), Hy5 does not introduce dry or irritated skin.

iv. Hy5 is non-flammable, non-toxic and PROTECTS the skin. On the other hand, alcohol-based products are infamous for destroying protective skin cells, they are notorious for introducing flash point (flammability) risk, and they can cause infection, whether as a result of dry/irritated skin, or if applied to open cuts or abrasions. For kids or adults, this is a sensation that you want to avoid.
 

iv. Hy5 is Kosher-certified and Sharia-compliant, making this product that much more compelling for a variety of venues.

Q. What is Hy5's primary ingredient?

A. Hy5 active ingredient is the organic compound Benzalkonium Chloride (aka BAC), long considered by medical professionals for being one of the safest organic compounds. BAC has been used for the past 40 years in a wide variety of consumer and health care-related antiseptic and antibacterial products, including "Bactine' antisepetic, Johnson & Johnson's 'BandAid' brand foaming antiseptic, and most spermicidal foams. Hy5 Ingredients:

Active Ingredient: Benzalkonium Chloride Inactive ingredient: Aqua Aloe Vera Cocamidopropyl Betaine Propylene Glycol Glycerin Cetrimonium Chloride Cocamidopropylamine Oxide Triethanolamine Citric Acid

A Comparison of Commonly Used Surface Disinfectants Alcohol-, Phenol-, Chlorine-, and Quaternary Amine-Based Disinfectants By Lauren Crawford, BS; Zhi-Jian Yu, PhD; Erin Keegan, BS; and Tina Yu, MS.

Quaternary amines such as benzalkonium chloride and benzethonium chloride are commonly used in small concentrations in after-dinner skin wipes, skin disinfectants as well as in ophthalmic, cosmetic and food preservatives. The final report on the safety assessment of benzethonium chloride (diisobutylphenoxyethoxyethyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride) and benzalkonium chloride has been issued by the CTFA (Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association) and concluded that the compound is safe at concentrations of .5% and below in cosmetics applied to the skin, and safe at .02% for cosmetics used in the eye area.

Q. What are the pathogens that Benzalkonium Chloride has proven to be effective against? 

Hy5 has been independently-tested and proven effective against a broad spectrum of commonly transmitted viruses, bacteria, germs and fungi. "Kill times" documented are within a matter of seconds.

Because Hy5 is registered as an "OTC drug", the FDA does not currently allow makers of instant hand sanitizers to make advertising claims on websites that would reference efficacy against any specific types of pathogens, due to FDA concern that consumers will presume that the particular illness caused by these germs will be completely prevented through use of the product. Independent lab tests can however be provided upon request

Because germs can be spread in a number of ways, NO maker of hand sanitizer products can provide complete guarantees. That said, we maintain that proper hand hygiene is one of the most important tools to prevent the spread of illness. This is why the CDC and various other organizations recommend hand-washing or use of appropriate hand sanitizer, when soap and water are not available.
Q. Why is Hy5 better than alcohol-based products?

A. Hy5 has proven effective at killing 99.99% of commonly transmitted germs and viruses within  seconds, and more importantly-Hy5 brand alcohol-free products are effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens.

A. Greater Effectiveness. Alcohol-based products lose their effectiveness immediately after being applied to the skin; Hy5 remains active well after being applied to the hands (or feet) and leaves the skin feeling soft. Hy5 is both antiseptic and hypoallergenic; a benefit not included with alcohol-based products.

A. Safer4Kids - Alcohol-Free, Rinse Free, Fragrance Free Foaming Hy5 is non-toxic and not dangerous for kids or adults (when properly applied).

Q. Who are some of Hy5's customers?
 
A.
Customers include a wide cross-section of institutions and facilities throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. Illustrative customers include: the U.S. General Services Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Naval Department of Surface Warfare, Fortune 100 corporations, federal, state and local correctional facilities, senior health care venues, and several hundred public and private schools and universities.

Q.

Does Hy5 contain Soap?

A. No.

Q. Is Hy5 better than antibacterial soap?

A. Independent lab tests have demonstrated that Hy5 is more effective against bacteria than any other antimicrobial active ingredients found in most soaps.

 
Q. How often should Hy5 be used?

A. Hy5 is safe to use as frequently as deemed appropriate. The active ingredient provides extended persistency with frequent application; suggested frequency of application depends on the activity of the end user. That said, no product of any type should be used in gross excess.

Q. Will Hy5 stain floors, carpets, fabrics or other surfaces?

A. No. The active ingredient in hy5 has been found to kill not only unwanted germs and bacteria, but also "kills" unpleasant odors on the skin (e.g. tobacco). Hy5 will NOT cause nail polish or paint to be removed. Alcohol-based products are infamous for staining, and, as widely-known throughout the hospital industry, alcohol hand sanitizers, when dripped on to the floor, actually destroy industrial floor wax; is that what you want to put into your hands?

Q.Does Hy5 damage jewelry? 

A. No.

Q. Why do we say Alcohol-Based Products Are Bad?
A.
i. Toxic. According to a 2007 report published by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, in 2006 there were approximately 12,000 incidents of child-related alcohol poisoning directly attributed to alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

ii. Flammable. You do not need to test this at home to appreciate the fact that alcohol gels, foams and sprays are flammable. A quick search on YouTube.com will reveal any number of very creative ways in which kids, teens and others are re-purposing alcohol hand sanitizers. Its no wonder that the FDA, the CDC, EPA and other government agencies all insert warnings into their respective documents cautioning against where and how alcohol-based (and fragrance-based) cleaning and sanitizing products should be used.
iii. Risk of infection. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer products can actually introduce infection, including when applied to open cuts.
 

According to the Chief Medical Officer of Kalamazoo County, Michigan:

..I don't know why we always seem to stress alcohol-based hand sanitizes. It may be to keep public education easier/ less complicated. I personally don't like them because I have eczema and it really dries and inflames my skin (increasing my risk for infection!)...
 

Q. Why does the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and, as a result, certain "local public officials", seem to "recommend" alcohol-based gels when washing with soap and water is not available, but otherwise fail to mention safer, equally-effective, NON-ALCOHOL hand sanitizer products that have come to market in recent years?

A. Since the late 1990's, most "experts" have failed to perform their own due diligence and have simply deferred to the CDC's 50-page "hand hygiene guideline" for guidance on the topic of hand sanitizers. The CDC manual, initially written in 1996 exclusively for professional health care workers within hospital settings, does include caveats and cautionary statements with regard to the dangers of alcohol-based sanitizers, but merely provides a one-sentence mention referencing "emerging non-alcohol hand sanitizer alternatives." The CDC document, now 14-years old, indicated "there is not enough evidence" with regard to non-alcohol products", despite the fact most of those products use active ingredients that conform to FDA monographs governing OTC antibacterial and antiseptic products.

That said, in August 2009, the CDC did issue a memo that included the following Question and CDC's answer : *What if soap and water are not available and alcohol-based products are not allowed in my facility? If soap and water are not available and alcohol-based products are not allowed, other hand sanitizers that do not contain alcohol may be useful. "

That said, in September of 2009, the CDC finally issued a memorandum (available at Flu.Gov) acknowledging that public schools and universities throughout the country have since come to their own conclusions insofar as the inappropriateness of alcohol-based sanitizers, and those conclusions have caused hundreds of schools to systematically prohibit alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and to embrace non-alcohol hand sanitizing products. Illustrating the resolute nature of these decisions, the reader should appreciate that decisions to ban alcohol hand sanitizers, and to embrace non-alcohol products have been made in the midst of one of the most publicized pandemics in modern history.

The excerpt to CDC's memo:

Influenza may spread via contaminated hands or inanimate objects that become contaminated with influenza viruses. CDC recommends that students and staff be encouraged to wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing... If soap and water are not available, and if alcohol-based products are not allowed in the school, other HAND SANITIZERS THAT DO NOT CONTAIN ALCOHOL MAY BE USEFUL..."

 
Q.

Q. Under what circumstances and settings should Hy5 be used?
A. First and foremost we adamantly recommend frequent hand washing with proper soap and water as the primary means to best protect yourself and your children against the spread of germs and viruses. With respect to MRSA and similar bacteria, we also strongly recommend proper bandaging of open cuts and abrasions.

But we all know that washing with soap and water isn't always convenient, and we all know that germs, viruses, and bacteria can be transmitted in virtually any type of environment whether merely standing next to someone on a bus, shaking hands in a business meeting, using a cell phone, typing on a keyboard, or simply touching an object.

There are hundreds of circumstances that can expose you to commonly transmitted bacteria, germs, virus and fungi, and Hy5 can help protect you when a sink with soap and water is not immediately accessible.

Q. Aside from being integral to hand hygiene strategies that help to protect against cold and flu, and other communicable germs, bacteria and viruses, what specific settings, situations, and uses will Hy5 wall mount dispensers be ideal for?

A.

Schools,

High traffic areas; building lobbies

Day Care Facilities

Health Care Venues (Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Clinics)

Sports stadiums and arenas

Movie theatres

Playgrounds

Public restrooms

Shopping malls

Supermarkets

Tourist Attractions

Cruise Ships

Office buildings

Food Preparation Areas

Arcades and entertainment centers

Correctional facilities

Industrial factories

Mass transit ticketing areas, airports

Q. What happens if Hy5 is accidentally ingested?

A. Hy5 is non-toxic, but in such circumstances, we recommend contacting a health care professional or local Poison Control Center for guidance.

Q. What size dispensers is Hy5 available in?

A. 1000ml (1Litre) OSHA-compliant, vacuum-sealed cartridges and push button or hands free (sensor-based) wall-mount dispensers that are appropriate for schools, offices and health care venues.

Q. Does Hy5 provide bulk purchase discounts or special discounts for educational facilities and non-profits?

A. Of course. Schools and charitable organizations enjoy up to 20% discounts (min. order qty applies) vs. listed retail price. Bulk purchases also enjoy significant discounts. S/H excluded.

 
Q. Who can I contact for more information?

A. Simply call 203-255-0034 and a Hy5 Sanitizing Squad Member will be happy to assist you.