Q. Aside from the foam format of our products being 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 (including Swine Flu, MRSA, Staph, Salmonella, and many other pathogens), 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.
There are two choices to make when selecting a hand sanitizer. The legacy, alcohol-based, icky gel, flammable, toxic, and funny smelling product, or alternative, non-alcohol products such as Hy5 .
Hy5 soft foam formula works better than alcohol-based gels; our alcohol-free formulas are well-documented with regard to effectiveness at killing a wide spectrum of pathogens, are non-irritating, penetrate dirt (alcohol does not) and provide extended persistency.
ii.
Hy5 are antiseptic and hypoallergenic; they can be safely applied to scrapes and cuts without causing sting.
iii. Hy5 are 2x-3x MORE COST EFFECTIVE than alcohol-based gels, and unlike alcohol-based products within both consumer
and institutional settings (Purell, GermX and others), Hy5 does not introduce dry and irritated
skin.
iv. Hy5 are non-flammable, non-toxic and PROTECT 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 is Not
Popular.
iv. Both Hy5 are Kosher-certified, making these products that much more compelling for a variety of venues.
Q.
What is Hy5's primary ingredient?
A. Hy5 active ingredient is 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 antispetic, Johnson & Johnson's BandAid brand foaming antiseptic, and most spermicidal foams.
Hy5 Ingredients:
Active Ingredient:
Benzalkonium Chloride 0.24%
Inactive ingredient:
Aqua
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?
A.
Apergillis niger
Arkansas 99/
Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus
Avian Influenza Virus
Breveibacteium
Campylobacter
Candida albicans
Candida keyfr
Canine Distemper Virus
Citrus Canker Disease
Clostridium difficile (veg.) a/k/a C. difficile a/k/a C.diff)
Dematophytes (cause of Ringworm)
Enterococcus faecalis
Enterococcus faecium (VRE)
Escherichia coli (e. coli)
Hepatitis A and B
Herpes simplex virus Type 1 , Type 2
HIV
Human Coronavirus (related to SARS)
Influenza A2/Hong Kong (Influenza)
Klebsiella pneumonia
Listeria monocytogenes
Mareks Disease Virus
Microcoocus luteus
Newcastles Disease Virus
Pathogenic E. Coli
Proteus mirabilis
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Psuedorabies Virus
Salmonella enteritidis
Salmonella typhimurium
Serratia marcescens
Shigella sonnei
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Staphylococcus haemolyticus
Staphylococcus saprophyticus
Streptococcus pyogenes
Trichophyton mentagrophytes (athletes foot)
Trichophyton rubrum
Vaccinia (Pox Virus)
Yersinia enterocolitica
Q. Why is
Hy5 better than alcohol-based products?
A. Hy5 has proven effective at not only killing 99.9% of commonly
transmitted germs and viruses within seconds, but more importantly- Hy5 brand alcohol-free products are effective against
including C. difficile (veg), a hospital-acquired virus that leads to septic shock and
causes death in more than 10% of those that are exposed to it.
A. Greater Effectiveness. Alcohol-based products lose their effectiveness within
seconds of being applied to the skin; Hy5 remain active well after being applied to the hands (or feet) and leaves the skin feeling soft. Hy5 are both antiseptic and hypoallergenic; a benefit not included with alcohol-based products.
A. Safer4Kids - Alcohol-Free, Rinse Free, Fragrance Free Foaming Hy5 are non-toxic and not dangerous for kids or adults (when properly applied).
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 these
soaps.
Q.
How often should Hy5 be used?
A. As
frequently as you like.
Q.
Will Hy5 stain floors, carpets, fabrics or other surfaces?
A. Nope.
And our products will NOT cause nail polish to be removed either. 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
breakup 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 alcohol poisoning directly attributed to alcohol-based hand
sanitizers. Not Popular.
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
repurposing 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 Centers for Disease Control and public officials recommend
alcohol-based gels when washing with soap and water is not available, and make
little mention of alcohol-free products that have come to market in recent
years?
A. As recently as October 2007, in the midst of the most recent MRSA
outbreak in schools across the country, officials from the CDC stated that CDC
hand hygiene guidelines have not been updated since first being published in
1996, and that these guidelines were intended exclusively for
institutional health care settings (hospitals).
These same officials have also stated
that For those reading the complete 50 page document, the guidelines
specifically caution against using alcohol-based hand sanitizers in a variety of
settings.
Q.
So why doesnt the CDC update their recommendations to take into account
newer, alcohol-free hand sanitizer technologies??
A.
The same officials at CDC have stated..we dont perform research, we can only tell people to do their own research before purchasing a
product.
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 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 helping to protect against cold and flu, and other communicable germs, bacteria and viruses (e.g. MRSA), what specific settings, situations, and uses will Hy5 travel size wall mount dispensers be ideal for?
A.
Schools, Backpacks
Day Care Facilities
Health Care Venues (Hospitals, Nursuing Homes, Clinics)
Cancer patients, HIV victims, and those with low immunity
Traveling via public transportation
Sports
stadiums and arenas
Movie theatres
Playgrounds
Public restrooms
Shopping malls
Supermarkets
Tourist Attractions
Cruise Ships
Office environments
Business conferences
Escalator
handles
Door
handles
Playground
and sports equipment
Touching
computer keyboards
Public
phones/friends phone
Restaurants (silverware, glassware)
Arcades
and entertainment centers
Correctional facilities
Construction sites
Battle
fields
First aid
kits, natural disasters,floods, water outages
Summer Camps
Camping
and Hiking
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.
1.1oz, 3.4oz, (airplane compliant) 8.45oz, 18.5oz, 1 Gal refill containers and
a selection of wall-mount dispensers appropriate for schools, offices and health
care venues.
Q. How
much does it cost?
A.
MSRP
for the most popular consumer sizes 3.4oz and 8.45 oz is $3.49 and $5.49,
respectively. Cost per dime-sized application equates to less a penny per day; a
tiny investment to help keep you protected against potentially dangerous germs
and viruses.
Q. Where
can Hy5 be purchased?
A. At more than 3000 leading retailers throughout the United States, including select Target and
Wal-Mart locations; in Canada and a continuously increasing number of EU
countries. Hy5 can also be purchased on-line via
www.SoapyUSA.com, or at Walmart.com
Q. Does
Hy5 provide 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. When ordering online at this website, simply enter Schools20off in the very last step of the shopping cart process (promotional code).
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.
