Comments on: Keeping Clean on Family Camping Trips

By: DrStu

DrStu — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:43:24 +0000

Purell is a perfect product to take camping: if you need a propellant to start a camp fire. Otherwise, anyone that thinks alcohol-based hand sanitizers are appropriate for camping are terribly misguided.. As pointed out by Walter, alcohol-based rubs have absolutely no effectiveness if hands are dirty/soiled.
Exactly why many experts are recommending alcohol-free, rinse free hand sanitizers that use benzalkonium chloride as the active..Its antispetic and hypoallergenic. Popular brands include “Soapopular” (available at 3000 retail locations, including WalMart SuperCenters, and online at http://www.soapyusa.com)….excellent blog on the topic is http://www.handhygienefacts.blogspot.com

By: Walter Underwood

Walter Underwood — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:11:22 +0000

I was working from a page about hygiene after a hurricane or other disaster. That page is for the average citizen, not health or emergency personnel. Three highlights listed at the top of that CDC page: It is best to wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. When water is not available, use alcohol-based hand products (sanitizers). Wash hands before preparing or eating food and after going to the bathroom. Growing up, I lived in Baton Rouge when Hurricane Betsy came through, and it was a lot like camping for about a week afterwards. Same thing after the Loma Prieta earthquake. These recommendations seem directly applicable to outdoors living, whether voluntary or not. Walter Underwood’s last blog post..Query Box as Confessional Box

By: Roy Scribner

Roy Scribner — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:44:58 +0000

That’s a good point about the flammability, Walter. I believe you are taking the CDC guidelines out of context, however. Those guidelines are for healthcare workers (see http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5116.pdf). Under the same guidelines, the CDC specifically prohibits the use of standard soap and water. They have a much easier to read FAQ on the subject here: http://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/faq/hand.htm

VE – is that where you got the name “The Cellophane Kid”? lol

Adam – used properly (e.g. packed-out) wipes are a better LNT solution than even biodegradable soaps, since you are not adding your dirty water to the ecosystem. Yep, 9 months here, too (first Gulf War) – got to love it!

By: Adam Shake

Adam Shake — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:14:41 +0000

Aaah yes, the Baby Wipe Bath. While in Bosnia for 9 months, living in our hummers, not 1 shower. Believe me, you learn how to stretch the lifespan of a baby wipe. The thing to remember about any type of wipe though, is to L.N.T. (Leave No Trace for those who are not familiar with the term) There are also a few good biodegradable soaps on the market, and one is called "camp suds", but like your article mentioned, these require water. Great article, thanks Adam Adam Shake’s last blog post..Good News Monday - Good Green News for Dec. 1st, 2008

By: VE

VE — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:50:13 +0000

I wrap their whole bodies in several layers of cellophane, one for each day camping. At the end of the day they can take off the outer dirty layer...works good except for that breathing need... VE’s last blog post..VE goes GEOcaching