Editor's note: The COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 has turned everyone into a little disinfection guard. Most families have 84 disinfectant, 75% alcohol and other disinfection supplies. But disinfection is also a double-edged sword. If it is not stored properly or used improperly, it may bring disaster to yourself. Today, People's Health Network will give you some popular science about disinfection.

Safety Storage Guide for Disinfectants

1. Disinfection products should be stored in a cool, ventilated place, away from fire and heat sources, and avoid direct sunlight.

2. Alcohol containers should be stored in glass or special plastic packaging, and must have a reliable seal. It is strictly forbidden to use uncovered containers.

3. Do not use ordinary mineral water bottles, beverage bottles and other non-special packaging to hold alcohol. The sub-packaging bottles must be marked to prevent accidental ingestion.

4. After each use of alcohol, the container must be immediately covered with a lid to avoid volatilization.

Guide to the use of disinfectants

¡°Six Strengthenings¡±

1. Disinfection of isolation wards and patient residences at any time and terminally;

2. Increase the frequency of disinfection of environmental surfaces that are frequently touched in crowded places such as hospitals, airports, and stations;

3. Strengthen cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched door handles, elevator buttons, faucets, etc. in other places;

4. Collect and harmlessly treat garbage, feces and sewage;

5. Maintain personal hand hygiene;

6. Popularize and publicize disinfection knowledge.

"Nine Don'ts"

1. It is not suitable to carry out large-scale disinfection of outdoor environment;

2. It is not suitable to disinfect the air of the external environment;

3. It is not suitable to use disinfectants (powders) directly to disinfect personnel;

4. It is not suitable to use alcohol to spray disinfection of indoor air and large-scale disinfection of the environment;

5. It is not suitable to spray disinfectants on the exterior and wheels of vehicles that have not entered contaminated places;

6. It is not suitable to add disinfectants (powders) to ponds, reservoirs, artificial lakes, rivers and other environments for disinfection;

7. Chemical disinfectants and ultraviolet disinfection of air (space) shall not be used when people are present;

8. It is not suitable to wipe and spray the environment with glutaraldehyde;

9. It is not suitable to use high-concentration chlorine-containing disinfectants (effective chlorine concentration greater than 1000mg/L) for preventive disinfection.

Excessive disinfection is harmful

1. Disinfection of personnel entering and leaving. Chemical disinfectants irritate the skin, mucous membranes and respiratory tract, which is harmful to human health.

2. Disinfection of green belts. It is highly oxidizing, causing damage to flowers, plants and trees, and causing environmental pollution.

3. Disinfection of outdoor air and ground. Disinfectants penetrate into the ground, or directly enter the rainwater pipes and are discharged into rivers and lakes, polluting water sources, and have adverse effects on microorganisms and aquatic ecology. Chlorine-containing disinfectants remain in the soil, causing the soil to become acidic, destroying the soil structure, causing compaction, etc., and may kill microorganisms in the soil, causing damage to the biological network chain of urban green spaces.

4. Disinfection of vehicle exteriors and wheels. It is highly oxidizing and corrosive to objects, and also causes environmental pollution.

Special tips for the use of disinfectants

1. 84 disinfectant is mainly used for disinfection of the surface of objects and the external environment; 75% alcohol is used for skin disinfection or the surface of metal objects, and the concentration should be 70~75%. If you buy high-concentration alcohol, dilute it according to the instructions before use. Before disinfection, remove flammable materials around the use site. When using, do not approach heat sources or open flames.

2. When using alcohol for disinfection, avoid spraying over a large area, but wipe it. Nowadays, people often use alcohol spray for disinfection, but they do not know that the strong volatility of alcohol will greatly increase the safety hazards in confined spaces (such as rooms with closed doors and windows). As long as there are small sparks, it may cause a deflagration, which is even more dangerous than the direct ignition of alcohol. Spraying alcohol directly in the air or on the body is no different from "getting on fire"!

3. Avoid using high-concentration alcohol for disinfection when smoking, making phone calls, cooking, and using electric mosquito swatters.

4. When performing alcohol disinfection indoors, ventilation should be maintained. Towels and other fabrics soaked in alcohol should be rinsed with plenty of clean water or ventilated and dried.

5. Medical alcohol should be purchased from regular medical institutions, and industrial alcohol should not be purchased. Industrial alcohol has many impurities and also contains toxic substances such as methanol.

6. Alcohol should be stored in a sealed container to avoid light and heat sources. It should not be placed near balconies, stoves and electrical appliances.

7. When preparing and using 84 disinfectant, it is best to wear rubber gloves and goggles, and wipe it again with clean water 30 minutes after disinfection.

8. 84 disinfectant should never be mixed with acidic substances such as toilet cleaners. The main component of 84 disinfectant is sodium hypochlorite, which is alkaline; the main component of toilet cleaners is hydrochloric acid, which is acidic; when the two are mixed, they will immediately generate very irritating chlorine gas, which will damage the human respiratory tract and cause symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, and dizziness. Large amounts may even endanger life.

9. It is not advisable to use high-concentration chlorine-containing disinfectants (effective chlorine concentration greater than 1000mg/L) for preventive disinfection. Generally, the concentration of chlorine-containing disinfectants for home disinfection is 250~500mg/L. High-concentration chlorine-containing disinfectants can pollute the environment and damage items, and are also potential safety hazards.

10. Chlorine-containing disinfectants corrode and irritate the skin and mucous membranes. Do not contact them directly with your hands. Wear masks and gloves when preparing and using them.

11. After disinfection, rinse with clean water to avoid residual disinfectant from harming the human body.

12. Chlorine-containing disinfectants can bleach fabrics. Fabrics that are afraid of bleaching should be disinfected with caution.

13. Chlorine-containing disinfectants must be prepared and used immediately. The effective chlorine will decompose quickly after dilution. Cold water should be used for preparation because hot water will accelerate the decomposition of effective chlorine.

14. For families with young children, disinfection products should be stored out of reach of children, such as high places or locked in special cabinets to avoid accidental ingestion.

15. For older children, parents can explain the characteristics of disinfection products to their children and educate them not to touch disinfection products at will, let alone ignite them with fire.

16. Alcohol should be kept out of reach of children, and children should be taught not to play with alcohol.

17. Alcohol is an external disinfectant and must not be taken orally.

18. People who are allergic to alcohol should use it with caution.

19. Alcohol can damage rubber, gum and many optical components, so it should be used with caution.

20. It is not recommended to store disinfectant products in large quantities at home to avoid potential safety hazards. (People's Health Network compiled from Chengdu CDC WeChat Official Account and Suzhou CDC WeChat Official Account)

Plastic Industry Video