Automatic Robot Sanitizer

The disinfection robot supports automatic and remote operation

modes. With the automatic mode, users could make a disinfection
operation plan according to the established standard requirements,
through setting the spraying time, dose and region on the robot’s
interactive terminal. The robot would run the disinfection plan
automatically, according to the parameters set by the user. The
frequency of flow valve is automatically adjusted to control the
disinfectant spraying flow, and the air speed from the sprayer is
automatically adjusted to reach the disinfectant spraying distance, so as
to realize the unmanned disinfection operation in the breeding
environment. With the remote control mode, users could send the
operation instructions to the robot through PC or mobile terminal, so as
to finish the disinfection on the cultivation tools outside of the animal
house, which also is a high-frequency task. In the remote mode,
according to the user's independent judgment, the disinfection dose
and spray distance in different working areas could be dynamically
adjusted.

In view of the demand of large flow and long range on the disinfection
task, the structure of gas-liquid externally mixed spray nozzle is
adopted as the disinfectant spraying device. As shown in Fig.2, the
nozzle is composed of a liquid port, a cone block, a casing and an air
grid. The air blown from the suction fan bypasses the cone block and
passes through the air grid at the outlet, and the high-speed rotating air
flow is generated. The liquid flow from the port would be shocked into
the fog-drop and blown away by the air flow. The disinfection of various
flux and range could be implemented through adjusting the liquid flow
and the fan’s rotating speed.
Tests and Results
Tests In order to verify the robot’s key components, the actual
performance of the sprayer was tested, under environment with
temperature 25.8 ℃, humidity 55.4%. Starting from 0.3 m away from
the sprayer outlet along the spaying direction, water sensitive papers
are placed at an interval of 1.5 m as the measuring sections. The liquid
flux was respectively set 400 ml/min, 800 ml/min and 1200 ml/min.
After the water-sensitive paper was dried, it was scanned into image by
the scanner. The size and density parameters of the deposited droplets
were obtained by analyzing the scanned images. 4.2 Results As shown
in Table.1, the diameter of atomized droplets formed with different liq-
uid flux, was calculated. Under a constant air speed, the droplet
diameter was mainly determined by the liquid flux, and less affected by
the spray distance. With the in-crease of liquid flux, the droplet
diameter would get bigger. With different liquid flux, the droplet
diameter at the maximum spray distance of 6.3m was respectively
45.27 μm, 134.90μm and 231.09 μm. The optimal particle diameter is
30-150 μm7 for killing the attached pathogen in the livestock houses, so
the robot would obtain better disinfection effect with the spraying flux
of 400-800 ml/min
Automatic Hand sanitizer
Automatic Hand sanitizer is a liquid, gel, or foam generally used to
decrease infectious agents on the hands. In most settings, hand
washing with soap and water is generally preferred. Hand sanitizer is less
effective at killing certain kinds of germs, such as norovirus and Clostridium
difficile and unlike soap and water, it cannot remove harmful
chemicals. People may incorrectly wipe off hand sanitizer before it has
dried, and some are less effective because their alcohol concentrations are
too low.

In most healthcare settings alcohol-based hand sanitizers are preferable to

hand washing with soap and water, because it may be better tolerated and
is more effective at reducing bacteria. Hand washing with soap and water;
however, should be carried out if contamination can be seen, or following
the use of the toilet. The general use of non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers
has no recommendations.

Alcohol-based versions typically contain some combination of isopropyl

alcohol, ethanol (ethyl alcohol), or n-propanol, with versions containing
60% to 95% alcohol the most effective. [4] Care should be taken as they
are flammable.[8]Alcohol-based hand sanitizer works against a wide variety
of microorganismsbut not spores.[4] Compounds such as glycerol may be
added to prevent drying of the skin.[4] Some versions contain fragrances;
however, these are discouraged due to the risk of allergic reactions. [11] Non-
alcohol based versions typically contain benzalkonium chloride or triclosan;
but are less effective than alcohol-based ones.[12][13][14]
Alcohol has been used as an antiseptic at least as early as 1363 with
evidence to support its use becoming available in the late 1800s.
[15]
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer has been commonly used in Europe since
at least the 1980s.[16] The alcohol-based version is on the World Health
Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the safest and most effective
medicines needed in a health system.
 Uses
General public

The Clean Hands campaign by the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) instructs the public in hand washing. Alcohol-based hand
sanitizer is recommended only if soap and water are not available.[18]

When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:

1. Apply product to the palm of one hand.

2. Rub hands together.
3. Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are
dry.[18]
4. Do not go near flame or gas burner or any burning object during
applying hand sanitizer.

The current evidence for the effectiveness of school hand hygiene

interventions is of poor quality.[19]

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers may not be effective if the hands are greasy
or visibly soiled. In hospitals, the hands of healthcare workers are often
contaminated with pathogens, but rarely soiled or greasy. In community
settings, on the other hand, grease and soiling is common from activities
such as handling food, playing sports, gardening, and being active
outdoors. Similarly, contaminants like heavy metals and pesticides
(generally found outdoors[citation needed]) cannot be removed by hand sanitizers.
Hand sanitizers may also be swallowed by children, especially if brightly-
coloured.[5]
Some commercially-available hand sanitizers (and online recipes for
homemade rubs) have alcohol concentrations that are too low. [20] This
makes them less effective at killing germs.[5] Poorer people in developed
countries[20] and people in developing countries may find it harder to get a
hand sanitizer with an effective alcohol concentration.[21] Fraudulent
labelling of alcohol concentrations has been a problem in Guyana.

Health care

Hand sanitizers were first introduced in 1966 in medical settings such as

hospitals and healthcare facilities. The product was popularized in the early
1990s.[23]

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is more convenient compared to hand

washing with soap and water in most situations in the healthcare setting.
[8]
Among healthcare workers, it is generally more effective for
hand antisepsis, and better tolerated than soap and water.[4] Hand washing
should still be carried out if contamination can be seen or following the use
of the toilet.[10]

Hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol or contains a "persistent

antiseptic" should be used.[24][25] Alcohol rubs kill many different kinds of
bacteria, includingantibiotic resistant bacteria and TB bacteria. They also
kill many kinds of viruses, including the flu virus, the common cold
virus, coronaviruses, and HIV.[26][27]

90% alcohol rubs are more effective against viruses than most other forms
of hand washing.[28] Isopropyl alcohol will kill 99.99 % or more of all non-
spore forming bacteria in less than 30 seconds, both in the laboratory and
on human skin.[24][29]
The alcohol in hand sanitizers may not have the 10–15 seconds exposure
time required to denature proteins and lyse cells in too low quantities (0.3
ml) or concentrations (below 60%).[4] In environments with high lipids or
protein waste (such as food processing), the use of alcohol hand rubs
alone may not be sufficient to ensure proper hand hygiene.[4]

For health care settings like hospitals and clinics, optimum alcohol
concentration to kill bacteria is 70% to 95%. [30][31] Products with alcohol
concentrations as low as 40% are available in American stores, according
to researchers at East Tennessee State University.

Alcohol rub sanitizers kill most bacteria, and fungi, and stop some viruses.
Alcohol rub sanitizers containing at least 70% alcohol (mainly ethyl alcohol)
kill 99.9% of the bacteria on hands 30 seconds after application and
99.99% to 99.999%[note 1] in one minute.

For health care, optimal disinfection requires attention to all exposed

surfaces such as around the fingernails, between the fingers, on the back
of the thumb, and around the wrist. Hand alcohol should be thoroughly
rubbed into the hands and on the lowerforearm for a duration of at least 30
seconds and then allowed to air dry.

Use of alcohol-based hand gels dries skin less, leaving more moisture in
the epidermis, than hand washing with
antiseptic/antimicrobial soap and water.
Drawbacks
There are certain situations during which hand washing with soap and
water are preferred over hand sanitizer, these include: eliminating bacterial
spores of Clostridioides difficile, parasites such as Cryptosporidium, and
certain viruses like norovirusdepending on the concentration of alcohol in
the sanitizer (95% alcohol was seen to be most effective in eliminating
most viruses).[38] In addition, if hands are contaminated with fluids or other
visible contaminates, hand washing is preferred as well as after using the
toilet and if discomfort develops from the residue of alcohol sanitizer
use. Furthermore, CDC states hand sanitizers are not effective in removing
chemicals such as pesticides.
 Safety
Fire

Alcohol gel can catch fire, producing a translucent blue flame. This is due
to the flammable alcohol in the gel. Some hand sanitizer gels may not
produce this effect due to a high concentration of water or moisturizing
agents. There have been some rare instances where alcohol has been
implicated in starting fires in the operating room, including a case where
alcohol used as an antiseptic pooled under the surgical drapes in an
operating room and caused a fire when a cautery instrument was used.
Alcohol gel was not implicated.

To minimize the risk of fire, alcohol rub users are instructed to rub their
hands until dry, which indicates that the flammable alcohol has evaporated.
[41]
Igniting alcohol hand rub while using it is rare, but the need for this is
underlined by one case of a health care worker using hand rub, removing a
polyester isolation gown, and then touching a metal door while her hands
were still wet; static electricity produced an audible spark and ignited the
hand gel.[4]:13 Fire departments suggest refills for the alcohol-based hand
sanitizers can be stored with cleaning supplies away from heat sources or
open flames.

Skin

Research shows that alcohol hand sanitizers do not pose any risk by
eliminating beneficial microorganisms that are naturally present on the skin.
The body quickly replenishes the beneficial microbes on the hands, often
moving them in from just up the arms where there are fewer harmful
microorganisms.[43]
However, alcohol may strip the skin of the outer layer of oil, which may
have negative effects on barrier function of the skin. A study also shows
that disinfecting hands with an antimicrobial detergent results in a greater
barrier disruption of skin compared to alcohol solutions, suggesting an
increased loss of skin lipids.[44][45]

Ingestion

In the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) controls
antimicrobial handsoaps and sanitizers as over-the-counter drugs (OTC)
because they are intended for topical anti-microbial use to prevent disease
in humans.[46]

The FDA requires strict labeling which informs consumers on proper use of
this OTC drug and dangers to avoid, including warning adults not to ingest,
not to use in the eyes, to keep out of the reach of children, and to allow use
by children only under adult supervision.[47] According to the American
Association of Poison Control Centers, there were nearly 12,000 cases of
hand sanitizer ingestion in 2006.[48] If ingested, alcohol-based hand
sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning in small children.[49] However, the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends using hand sanitizer with
children to promote good hygiene, under supervision, and furthermore
recommends parents pack hand sanitizer for their children when traveling,
to avoid their contracting disease from dirty hands.[50]

There have been reported incidents of people drinking the gel in prisons
and hospitals, where alcohol consumption is not allowed, to become
intoxicated. As a result, hand sanitizer has been restricted in some
facilities.[51][52]
People suffering from alcoholism may attempt to consume hand sanitizer to
satisfy their cravings. For example, over a period of several weeks during
the COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico, seven people in that U.S. state
who were alcoholic were severely injured by drinking sanitizer: three died,
three were in critical condition, and one was left permanently blind.[53]

Absorption

On April 30, 2015, the FDA announced that they were requesting more
scientific data based on the safety of hand sanitizer. Emerging science
suggests that for at least some health care antiseptic active ingredients,
systemic exposure (full body exposure as shown by detection of antiseptic
ingredients in the blood or urine) is higher than previously thought, and
existing data raise potential concerns about the effects of repeated daily
human exposure to some antiseptic active ingredients. This would include
hand antiseptic products containing alcohol and triclosan.

Surgical hand disinfection

Hands must be disinfected before any surgical procedure by hand washing

with mild soap and then hand-rubbing with a sanitizer. Surgical disinfection
requires a larger dose of the hand-rub and a longer rubbing time than is
ordinarily used. It is usually done in two applications according to specific
hand-rubbing techniques, EN1499 (hygienic handwash), and EN 1500
(hygienic hand disinfection) to ensure that antiseptic is applied everywhere
on the surface of the hand.

Alcohol-free

Some hand sanitizer products use agents other than alcohol to kill
microorganisms, such as povidone-iodine, benzalkonium
chloride or triclosan.[4] The World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC
[56]
recommends "persistent" antiseptics for hand sanitizers. Persistent
activity is defined as the prolonged or extended antimicrobial activity that
prevents or inhibits the proliferation or survival of microorganisms after
application of the product. This activity may be demonstrated by sampling a
site several minutes or hours after application and demonstrating bacterial
antimicrobial effectiveness when compared with a baseline level. This
property also has been referred to as "residual activity." Both substantive
and nonsubstantive active ingredients can show a persistent effect if they
substantially lower the number of bacteria during the wash period.

Laboratory studies have shown lingering benzalkonium chloride may be

associated with antibiotic resistance in MRSA.[57][58]Tolerance to alcohol
sanitizers may develop in fecal bacteria.[59][60] Where alcohol sanitizers
utilize 62%, or higher, alcohol by weight, only 0.1 to 0.13% of benzalkonium
chloride by weight provides equivalent antimicrobial effectiveness.

Triclosan has been shown to accumulate in biosolids in the environment,

one of the top seven organic contaminants in waste water according to
the National Toxicology Program[61] Triclosan leads to various problems
with natural biological systems,[62]and triclosan, when combined with
chlorine e.g. from tap water, produces dioxins, a probable carcinogen in
humans.[63]However, 90–98% of triclosan in waste water biodegrades by
both photolytic or natural biological processes or is removed due
to sorption in waste water treatment plants. Numerous studies show that
only very small traces are detectable in the effluent water that reaches
rivers.[64]
A series of studies show that photodegradation of triclosan produced 2,4-
dichlorophenol and 2,8-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,8-DCDD). The 2,4-
dichlorophenol itself is known to be biodegradable as well as
photodegradable.[65][full citation needed]
For DCDD, one of the non-toxic
compounds of the dioxin family,[66] a conversion rate of 1% has been
reported and estimated half-lives suggest that it is photolabile as well. [67][full
citation needed]
The formation-decay kinetics of DCDD are also reported by
Sanchez-Prado et al. (2006) who claim "transformation of triclosan to toxic
dioxins has never been shown and is highly unlikely."[68]

Alcohol-free hand sanitizers may be effective immediately while on the

skin, but the solutions themselves can become contaminated because
alcohol is an in-solution preservative and without it, the alcohol-free
solution itself is susceptible to contamination. However, even alcohol-
containing hand sanitizers can become contaminated if the alcohol content
is not properly controlled or the sanitizer is grossly contaminated with
microorganisms during manufacture. In June 2009, alcohol-free Clarcon
Antimicrobial Hand Sanitizer was pulled from the US market by the FDA,
which found the product contained gross contamination of extremely high
levels of various bacteria, including those which can "cause opportunistic
infections of the skin and underlying tissues and could result in medical or
surgical attention as well as permanent damage". Gross contamination of
any hand sanitizer by bacteria during manufacture will result in the failure of
the effectiveness of that sanitizer and possible infection of the treatment
site with the contaminating organisms.
 Types
Alcohol-based hand rubs are extensively used in the hospital environment
as an alternative to antiseptic soaps. Hand-rubs in the hospital environment
have two applications: hygienic hand rubbing and surgical hand
disinfection. Alcohol based hand rubs provide a better skin tolerance as
compared to antiseptic soap.[37] Hand rubs also prove to have more
effective microbiological properties as compared to antiseptic soaps.

The same ingredients used in over-the-counter hand-rubs are also used in

hospital hand-rubs: alcohols such ethanol andisopropanol, sometimes
combined with quaternary ammonium cations (quats) such
as benzalkonium chloride. Quats are added at levels up to 200 parts per
million to increase antimicrobial effectiveness. Although allergy to alcohol-
only rubs is rare, fragrances, preservatives and quats can cause contact
allergies.[70] These other ingredients do not evaporate like alcohol and
accumulate leaving a "sticky" residue until they are removed with soap and
water.

The most common brands of alcohol hand rubs include Aniosgel, Avant,
Sterillium, Desderman and Allsept S. All hospital hand rubs must conform
to certain regulations like EN 12054 for hygienic treatment and surgical
disinfection by hand-rubbing. Products with a claim of "99.99% reduction"
or 4-log reduction are ineffective in hospital environment, since the
reduction must be more than "99.99%".

The hand sanitizer dosing systems for hospitals are designed to deliver a
measured amount of the product for staff. They are dosing pumps screwed
onto a bottle or are specially designed dispensers with refill bottles.
Dispensers for surgical hand disinfection are usually equipped with elbow
controlled mechanism or infrared sensors to avoid any contact with the
pump.
How to Make Your Own Sanitizer
If you purchased any hand sanitizer containing methanol, you should stop
using it immediately. Return it to the store where you purchased it, if possible.
If you experienced any adverse effects from using it, you should call your
healthcare provider. If your symptoms are life threatening, call emergency
medical services immediately.

When it comes to preventing the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19,

nothing beats good old-fashioned handwashing.

But if water and soap aren’t available, your next best option, according to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is to use an alcohol-
based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.

Unless you have a stockpile of store-bought hand sanitizer, you’ll likely have a
hard time finding any at a store or online right now. Due to the rapid spread of
the new coronavirus, most retailers can’t keep up with the demand for hand
sanitizer.

The good news? All it takes is three ingredients to make your own hand
sanitizer at home. Read on to find out how.
A word of warning
Hand sanitizer recipes, including the one below, are intended for use by
professionals with the necessary expertise and resources for safe creation
and proper utilization.

Only use homemade hand sanitizers in extreme situations when handwashing

isn’t available for the foreseeable future.

Don’t use homemade hand sanitizers on children’s skin as they may be more
prone to use them improperly, leading to a greater risk of injury.
What ingredients do you need?
Making your own hand sanitizer is easy to do and only requires a few
ingredients:

 isopropyl or rubbing alcohol (99 percent alcohol volume)

 aloe vera gel

 an essential oil, such as tea tree oil or lavender oil, or you can use
lemon juice instead

The key to making an effective, germ-busting hand sanitizer is to stick to a 2:1

proportion of alcohol to aloe vera. This keeps the alcohol content around 60
percent. This is the minimum amount needed to kill most germs, according to
the CDC.
How do you make your own hand
sanitizer?
Jagdish Khubchandani, PhD, associate professor of health science at Ball
State University, shared this hand sanitizing formula.

His hand sanitizer formula combines:

 2 parts isopropyl alcohol or ethanol (91–99 percent alcohol)

 1 part aloe vera gel

 a few drops of clove, eucalyptus, peppermint, or other essential oil

If you’re making hand sanitizer at home, Khubchandani says to adhere to

these tips:

 Make the hand sanitizer in a clean space. Wipe down countertops with
a diluted bleach solution beforehand.

 Wash your hands thoroughly before making the hand sanitizer.

 To mix, use a clean spoon and whisk. Wash these items thoroughly
before using them.

 Make sure the alcohol used for the hand sanitizer is not diluted.

 Mix all the ingredients thoroughly until they’re well blended.

 Don’t touch the mixture with your hands until it’s ready for use.
For a larger batch of hand sanitizer, the World Health Organization
(WHO) has a formula for a hand sanitizer that uses:

 isopropyl alcohol or ethanol

 hydrogen peroxide

 glycerol

 sterile distilled or boiled cold water

Is it safe?
DIY hand sanitizer recipes are all over the internet these days — but are they
safe?

These recipes, including the ones above, are intended for use by
professionals with both the expertise and resources to safely make
homemade hand sanitizers.

Homemade hand sanitizer is only recommended in extreme situations when

you’re unable to wash your hands for the foreseeable future.

Improper ingredients or proportions can lead to:

 lack of efficacy, meaning that the sanitizer may not effectively eliminate
risk of exposure to some or all microbes

 skin irritation, injury, or burns

 exposure to hazardous chemicals via inhalation

Homemade hand sanitizer is also not recommended for children. Children

may be more prone to improper hand sanitizer usage, which could lead to
greater risk of injury.
How to use hand sanitizer
Two things to be aware of when using hand sanitizer:

 You need to rub it into your skin until your hands are dry.

 If your hands are greasy or dirty, you should wash them first with soap
and water.

With that in mind, here are some tips for using hand sanitizer effectively.

1. Spray or apply the sanitizer to the palm of one hand.

2. Thoroughly rub your hands together. Make sure you cover the entire
surface of your hands and all your fingers.

3. Continue rubbing for 30 to 60 seconds or until your hands are dry. It can
take at least 60 seconds, and sometimes longer, for hand sanitizer to kill
most germs.
What germs can hand sanitizer
kill?
According to the CDC, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that meets the alcohol
volume requirement can quickly reduce the number of microbes on your
hands.

It can also help destroy a wide range of disease-causing agents or pathogens

on your hands, including the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.

However, even the best alcohol-based hand sanitizers have limitations and
don’t eliminate all types of germs.

According to the CDC, hand sanitizers won’t get rid of potentially harmful
chemicals. It’s also not effective at killing the following germs:

 norovirus

 Cryptosporidium, which causes cryptosporidiosis

 Clostridium difficile, also known as C. diff

Also, a hand sanitizer may not work well if your hands are visibly dirty or
greasy. This may happen after working with food, doing yard work, gardening,
or playing a sport.

If your hands look dirty or slimy, opt for handwashing instead of a hand
sanitizer.
Handwashing vs. hand sanitizer
Knowing when it’s best to wash your hands, and when hand sanitizers can be
helpful, is key to protecting yourself from the new coronavirus as well as other
illnesses, like the common cold and seasonal flu.

While both serve a purpose, washing your hands with soap and water should
always be a priority, according to the CDC. Only use hand sanitizer if soap
and water isn’t available in a given situation.

It’s also important to always wash your hands:

 after going to the bathroom

 after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

 before eating

 after touching surfaces that could be contaminated

The CDC lists specific instructions on the most effective way to wash your
hands. They recommend the following steps:

1. Always use clean, running water. (It can be warm or cold.)

2. Wet your hands first, then turn the water off, and lather your hands with
soap.
3. Rub your hands together with the soap for at least 20 seconds. Make
sure to scrub the back of your hands, between your fingers and under
your nails.
4. Turn the water on and rinse your hands. Use a clean towel or air dry.
The bottom line
Hand sanitizer is a handy on-the-go way to help prevent the spread of germs
when soap and water isn’t available. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can help
keep you safe and reduce the spread of the new coronavirus.

If you’re having a hard time finding hand sanitizer at your local stores and
handwashing isn’t available, you can take steps to make your own. You only
need a few ingredients, such as rubbing alcohol, aloe vera gel, and an
essential oil or lemon juice.

Although hand sanitizers can be an effective way of getting rid of germs,

health authorities still recommend handwashing whenever possible to keep
your hands free of disease-causing viruses and other germs.
 Composition
Consumer alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and health care "hand alcohol" or
"alcohol hand antiseptic agents" exist in liquid, foam, and easy-flowing gel
formulations. Products with 60% to 95% alcohol by volume are effective
antiseptics. Lower or higher concentrations are less effective; most
products contain between 60% and 80% alcohol.[71]

In addition to alcohol (ethanol, isopropanol or n-Propanol), hand sanitizers

also contain the following:[71]

 additional antiseptics such as chlorhexidine and quaternary ammonium

derivatives,
 sporicides such as hydrogen peroxides that eliminate bacterial
spores that may be present in ingredients,
 emollients and gelling agents to reduce skin dryness and irritation,
 a small amount of sterile or distilled water,
 sometimes foaming agents, colorants or fragrances.
 WHO formulations
The World Health Organization has published a guide to producing large
quantities of hand sanitizer from chemicals available in developing
countries, where commercial hand sanitizer may not be available:[2]

10- 10-
Active Active
FORMULATI L FORMULATI L
ingredient (v ingredie
ON 1 pre ON 2 pre
/v) nt (v/v)
p. p.

8333 Isopropyl 7515

Ethanol 96% 80% 75.15%
mL alcohol99.8% mL

145 145
Glycerol 98% 1.45% Glycerol 98% 1.45%
mL mL

Hydrogen 417 Hydrogen 417

0.125% 0.125%
peroxide 3% mL peroxide 3% mL

added added
to to
Distilled water 18.425% Distilled water 23.425%
10000 10000
mL mL
Production
COVID-19 pandemic
In 2010 the World Health Organization produced a guide for manufacturing
hand sanitizer, which received renewed interest in 2020 because of
shortages of hand sanitizer in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
[2]
Dozens of liquor and perfume manufactures switched their manufacturing
facilities from their normal product to hand sanitizer.[72] In order to keep up
with the demand, local distilleries started using their alcohol to make hand
sanitizer.[73] Distilleries producing hand sanitizer originally existed in a legal
grey area in the United States, until the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and
Trade Bureau declared that distilleries could produce their sanitizer without
authorization.[74][75]

In the beginnings of the pandemic, because of hand sanitizer shortages

due to panic buying, people resort of using 60% to 99% concentrations of
isopropyl or ethyl alcohol for hand sanitization, typically mixing them
with glycerol or soothingmoisturizers or liquid contain aloe vera to
counteract irritations with options of adding drops of lemon or lime juice
or essential oils for scents, and thus making DIY hand sanitizers.[76]
[77]
However, there are cautions against making them, such as a wrong
measurement or ingredient may resulting in an insufficient amount of
alcohol to kill the coronavirus, thus rendering the mixture ineffective or even
poisonous.[78]

Additionally, some commercial products are dangerous, either due to poor

oversight and process control, or fraudulent motive. In June 2020, the FDA
issued an advisory against use of hand sanitizer products manufacture by
Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico due to excessive levels of methanol – up
to 81% in one product. Methanol can be absorbed through the skin, is toxic
in modest amounts, and in substantial exposure can result in "nausea,
vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma,
permanent damage to the nervous system or death".[79]Products suspected
of manufacture by Eskbiochem SA with excessive methanol have been
reported as far away as British Columbia, Canada.
Automatic Hand Sanitizer Dispenser with COVID19 Live Updates
ARDUINO
Corona Virus (Covid19) is wreaking havoc in the world. Almost every
country is suffering from the Corona Virus. WHO has already announced it
a Pandemic disease and many cities are under lockdown situation, people
can’t step out of their homes, and thousands have lost their lives. Many
websites are providing live updates of the coronavirus cases
like Microsoft’s Tracker, Esri’s Covid19 Tracker, etc.

In this project, we will build an Auto Hand Sanitizer Dispenser with an

LCD which also shows the live count of Coronavirus cases. This project will
use ESP32, Ultrasonic Sensor, 16x2 LCD Module, Water pump, and Hand
Sanitizer. We are using Esri’s API Explorer to get the live data of Covid19
infected people. An ultrasonic sensor is used to check the presence of
hands below the outlet of the sanitizer machine. It will continuously
calculate the distance between the sanitizer outlet and itself and tells the
ESP to turn on the pump whenever the distance is less than 15cm to push
the sanitizer out.

ESP32 is used as the main controller, it is a Wi-Fi module that can easily
connect to the internet. We previously used it to build many IoT based
projects using ESP32.

Components Required

 ESP32 Dev Module

 Ultrasonic Sensor
 16*2 LCD Display
 Relay Module
 Mini DC Submersible Pump
 Hand Sanitizer
API link for getting the Corona Live Data

Here we need to get the data from the internet and then send it to ESP32
to display it on 16x2 LCD. For that, an HTTP get request is invoked to read
the JSON file from the internet. Here we are using the API provided
by Coronavirus Disease GIS Hub. You can easily compile the correct query
URL to get the total Confirmed and recovered cases for India and can also
change the country/Region if you want to use this for a different country.

Introduction

Hospitals and health care professionals are

committed to improving the health of the
patients and communities they serve. Among
the great challenges the health care field
faces in accomplishing this goal are certain
risks associated with the provision of health
care. As described in the Institute of
Medicine’s 1999 report To Err is Human,
everyone involved in health care must work to
minimize the chance that the processes of
care might result in harm to patients.

Among the most common risks to patients are

health care-associated infections. Each year,
an estimated 2 million health care-associated
infections occur in the United States, and
there are an estimated 90,000 related deaths 1.
Research studies have shown that many of
the microorganisms causing these infections
are transmitted to patients from the
inadequately cleansed hands of health care
personnel. Hospitals and other health care
facilities, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), the Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
(JCAHO), and others have long promoted
hand hygiene as vital in preventing infections.

Alcohol-based hand-rubs have been used

safely for more than 30 years in European
countries to disinfect hands. Research has
shown these products to be at least as
effective, and in some cases more effective
than soap and water in cleaning hands. In
October 2002, the CDC published new
guidelines for hand hygiene in health care
settings. These guidelines advocate the use of
alcohol-based hand-rubs to improve the hand
hygiene practices of health care personnel.
However, many facilities have had difficulty
implementing these recommendations
because of fire safety concerns relating to
alcohol-based products.

As it is true for all large structures, hospitals

and other health care facilities must take
careful steps to prevent fires. And, like other
buildings, hospitals utilize automatic systems
to detect and suppress fires. But hospitals are
unique since their fire response strategy is
based on the “defend-in-place” principal
where patients and staff are not evacuated
from the building during a fire situation
(evacuation of building occupants is the fire
response strategy in nearly all other types of
large buildings). Because patients are often
incapable of securing their own safety, and
rapid evacuation of non-ambulatory patients is
not possible, hospitals are constructed in
compartments that prevent the spread of fire
and the products of combustion such as
smoke, carbon monoxide and other toxins.

Through compartmentalization, patients may

remain safely in their rooms as suppression
systems and fire responders extinguish the
fire. Under severe fire conditions that threaten
their compartment, patients may be evacuated
horizontally through egress corridors to the
safety of another compartment (e.g., move
from one compartment to another on the
same floor). Defend-in-place is the
cornerstone of hospital fire prevention and
mitigation. Fire and building codes detail the
specific facility construction features, systems
and operations that are required to achieve
the principle of defend-in-place. Working
together, fire marshals, fire safety
professionals, health care facility engineers
and architects, and others have achieved an
impressive record2 of fire safety through
constant attention to minimizing the risks of
fire.

To enable health care facilities to address the

need to reduce health care-associated
infections while being appropriately attentive
to fire safety concerns, the AHA and CDC
convened a stakeholders meeting to review
scientific evidence on the effectiveness of
alcohol-based hand-rubs and the applicable
fire regulations and codes. Representatives
from more than 20 organizations met in
Washington, DC on July 22, 2003 to discuss
patient and fire safety concerns associated
with the use of alcohol-based hand-rubs within
hospitals and other health care facilities. The
meeting participants represented hospitals,
infection control, fire safety, public health,
government agencies, accrediting bodies,
professional societies, unions and long-term
care facilities (see Attachment A).
Summary of Scientific Data & Fire Codes

John Boyce, MD, lead author of the Guideline

for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings,
shared data3 on hand hygiene practices, the
benefits of alcohol-based hand-rubs, and
trends in and impact of fire codes on their use
in U.S. health care facilities.

 Historically, health care personnel

adherence to recommended hand
washing practices (using soap and
water) has been poor (on average no
 greater than 50 percent).

 Barriers to health care personnel

adherence with recommended hand
washing practices include skin irritation,
lack of sinks, and time required to wash
hands with soap and water.

 Compared with soap and water hand

washing, alcohol-based hand-rubs are
more effective in reducing bacteria on
hands, cause less skin
irritation/dermatitis, and save personnel
time.

 Use of alcohol-based hand-rubs has

been associated with improved
adherence to recommended hand
hygiene practices

 Improved hand hygiene practices have

been associated with reduced health
care-associated infection rates.

 Studies at the Hospital of Saint Raphael

 in New Haven, Connecticut,
demonstrated a 57 percent improvement
in adherence to hand hygiene practices
after dispensers for alcohol-based hand-
rubs were moved from inside the
patient's room to outside the room.
Educational initiatives were undertaken
during the same period but improved
access was identified as a key element
of success.

 Information on the fire hazards of

alcohol-based hand-rubs:
o In a recent survey of 840 health
care facilities, 95 percent reported
using alcohol-based hand-rubs. The
responding facilities reported a
cumulative 1,430 years of use. No
fires attributable to or involving an
alcohol-based hand-rub dispenser
were reported. Eleven percent of
the facilities reported that they had
been told by a local fire marshal to
 remove dispensers from hallways.
The proportion of facilities that had
been told to remove a hallway
dispenser varied dramatically within
and between geographic regions.
For example, in 26 states, no
facilities were told to remove a
hallway dispenser; however, in five
states4, more than 50 percent of the
facilities were told to take down a
hallway dispenser.

Discussion of Fire Code Issues

Ed Altizer, representing the International Fire

Marshal's Association, and Robert Polk,
representing the National Association of State
Fire Marshals (NASFM), were each
appreciative of the efficacy of alcohol-based
hand-rubs; their concerns were with the
existing codes’ restrictions on location and
use of flammable liquids5.

 The National Association of State Fire

Marshals representatives distributed their
 report Alcohol-Based Waterless Hand
Sanitizers Assessment and
Recommendations6. This report includes
the statement: “We have absolutely no
doubt that alcohol-based waterless hand
sanitizers will save lives. Tens of
thousands of patients die each year from
cross-infections, and these cleansers are
regarded as a critical hygiene tool. The
issue is not whether these products
should be used, but how they can be
used safely.”

 There is no one single fire code7.

National, state and local authorities each
have independent jurisdiction. Which
national code is enforced, or if a state or
municipal code is created and enforced,
is the decision of each jurisdiction.

 Fire marshals have a legal responsibility

to enforce the fire codes, as they
currently exist. The only way to alleviate
existing restrictions on alcohol-based
hand-rub placement is by modifying the
current fire codes. Appropriate
modifications to the codes should be
crafted, taking into consideration ways to
manage the fire risks (as discussed
during the fire modeling study
presentation).
Fire Modeling Study

Tom Jaeger, PE, and Chris Leaver, PE, from

the engineering firm Gage-Babcock
Associates, shared the results of a fire-
modeling study8 to assess the relative fire
hazard of placing alcohol-based hand-rub
dispensers in health care facilities. The study
used computer modeling to predict the fire
characteristics (production and spread of heat,
smoke and carbon monoxide) of alcohol-
based hand-rubs in typical patient care
environments. The study modeled the worst-
case scenario of a complete rupture of a
dispenser, creating a pool of flammable liquid,
and ignition of the pool to determine what
steps could be taken to mitigate the potential
increased fire risk from alcohol-based hand-
rubs. Their findings were:

 Larger volumes of alcohol-based hand-

rub solution will generate higher
temperatures and greater amounts of
 smoke and carbon monoxide. Therefore:
o Single containers installed in a
corridor should not exceed a
maximum capacity of 1 liter
(approximately 0.26 gallons) for
ethyl alcohol-based hand-rub or 1.2
liter (approximately 0.31 gallons) for
isopropyl alcohol-based hand-rubs.

 With adequate spacing between

dispensers, the heat generated from the
burning of one dispenser will not cause
the ignition of other dispensers.
Therefore:
o Dispensers should be installed
intermittently in the corridor, such as
near the entrance of patient rooms.

 The generation of smoke and carbon

monoxide is of greater concern than the
hazards from heat or the actual fire. The
fire scenario of alcohol-based hand-rub
spilled on carpeting produced a large
amount of smoke due the charring of the
 carpet. Therefore:
o Alcohol-based hand-rub dispensers
should not be installed over
carpeting until further modeling is
completed.

Conclusions

 Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are an

important strategy for improving health
care personnel hand hygiene practices,
reducing health care-associated infection
and improving patient safety.

 Adherence is directly tied to access. The

 highest possible adherence to hand
hygiene practice is achieved when
alcohol-based hand-rub dispensers are
in readily accessible locations such as
the corridor near the patient room
entrance and inside patient rooms.

 Existing national fire codes permit

alcohol-based hand-rub dispensers in
patient rooms, but prohibit their
installation in egress or exit corridors.
(Note: Local or state fire code
requirements may differ from the national
codes; therefore, facilities are strongly
urged to determine requirements for their
particular locale.)

 Health care facilities should comply with

their local and state regulations
regarding:
o Total quantity of product per floor
and throughout the facility.
o Appropriate storage of bulk
 amounts of the product.
o Placement of alcohol-based hand-
rub dispensers and associated in-
use quantities in appropriate
locations within the facility.

 A number of organizations including the

NASFM, JCAHO, American Society for
Healthcare Engineering (ASHE), and
Association for Professionals in Infection
Control and Epidemiology have
published interim guidance documents
for the placement of dispensers and
control of bulk storage of alcohol-based
hand cleansers. The documents were
developed based on current knowledge
of flammable liquids and current codes.
These interim documents may be revised
based on new data and further
clarification of existing codes.

 Ongoing education of health care

personnel on proper hand hygiene and
the appropriate use of alcohol-based
 hand-rubs is critical and should address
cautions against placing other flammable
material (e.g. linen carts, isolation supply
carts) under dispensers, as well as an
understanding of the reasons for proper
dispenser placement and product
storage.

Components

DC Motor

A DC motor is any of a class of rotary electrical motors that

converts direct current electrical energy into mechanical energy.
The most common types rely on the forces produced by magnetic
fields. Nearly all types of DC motors have some internal
mechanism, either electromechanical or electronic, to periodically
change the direction of current in part of the motor.
DC motors were the first form of motor widely used, as they could
be powered from existing direct-current lighting power distribution
systems. A DC motor's speed can be controlled over a wide
range, using either a variable supply voltage or by changing the
strength of current in its field windings. Small DC motors are used
in tools, toys, and appliances. The universal motor can operate on
direct current but is a lightweight brushed motor used for portable
power tools and appliances. Larger DC motors are currently used
in propulsion of electric vehicles, elevator and hoists, and in
drives for steel rolling mills. The advent of power electronics has
made replacement of DC motors with AC motors possible in many
applications.

DC Pump

A pump is a device that moves fluids (liquids or gases), or

sometimes slurries, by mechanical action, typically converted
from electrical energy into Hydraulic energy. Pumps can be
classified into three major groups according to the method they
use to move the fluid: direct lift, displacement, and gravity pumps.
[1]

Pumps operate by some mechanism

(typically reciprocating or rotary), and consume energy to
perform mechanical work moving the fluid. Pumps operate via
many energy sources, including manual
operation, electricity, engines, or wind power, and come in many
sizes, from microscopic for use in medical applications, to large
industrial pumps.

Mechanical pumps serve in a wide range of applications such

as pumping water from wells, aquarium filtering, pond filtering
and aeration, in the car industry for water-cooling and fuel
injection, in the energy industry for pumping oil and natural gas or
for operating cooling towers and other components of heating,
ventilation and air conditioning systems. In the medical industry,
pumps are used for biochemical processes in developing and
manufacturing medicine, and as artificial replacements for body
parts, in particular the artificial heart and penile prosthesis.

When a casing contains only one revolving impeller, it is called a

single-stage pump. When a casing contains two or more revolving
impellers, it is called a double- or multi-stage pump.

In biology, many different types of chemical and biomechanical

pumps have evolved; biomimicry is sometimes used in developing
new types of mechanical pumps.

DC Battery
A battery is a device consisting of one or more electrochemical
cells with external connections[1] for powering electrical devices
such as flashlights, mobile phones, and electric cars. When a
battery is supplying electric power, its positive terminal is
the cathode and its negative terminal is the anode.[2] The terminal
marked negative is the source of electrons that will flow through
an external electric circuit to the positive terminal. When a battery
is connected to an external electric load, a redox reaction
converts high-energy reactants to lower-energy products, and
the free-energy difference is delivered to the external circuit as
electrical energy.[3] Historically the term "battery" specifically
referred to a device composed of multiple cells, however the
usage has evolved to include devices composed of a single cell.[4]

Primary (single-use or "disposable") batteries are used once and

discarded, as the electrode materials are irreversibly changed
during discharge; a common example is the alkaline battery used
for flashlights and a multitude of portable electronic
devices. Secondary (rechargeable) batteries can be discharged
and recharged multiple times using an applied electric current; the
original composition of the electrodes can be restored by reverse
current. Examples include the lead-acid batteries used in vehicles
and lithium-ion batteries used for portable electronics such
as laptops and mobile phones.
Batteries come in many shapes and sizes, from miniature cells
used to power hearing aids and wristwatches to small, thin cells
used in smartphones, to large lead acid batteries or lithium-ion
batteries in vehicles, and at the largest extreme, huge battery
banks the size of rooms that provide standby or emergency power
for telephone exchanges and computer data centers.

Batteries have much lower specific energy (energy per unit mass)
than common fuels such as gasoline. In automobiles, this is
somewhat offset by the higher efficiency of electric motors in
converting chemical energy to mechanical work, compared to
combustion engines.

Remote

In electronics, a remote control or clicker[1] is an electronic

device used to operate another device from a distance,
usually wirelessly. For example, in consumer electronics, a
remote control can be used to operate devices such as
a television set, DVD player or other home appliance, from a short
distance. A remote control is primarily a convenience feature for
the user, and can allow operation of devices that are out of
convenient reach for direct operation of controls. In some cases,
remote controls allow a person to operate a device that they
otherwise would not be able to reach, as when a garage door
opener is triggered from outside or when a video projector that is
mounted on a high ceiling is controlled by a person from the floor
level.

Early television remote controls (1956–1977)

used ultrasonic tones. Present-day remote controls are
commonly consumer infrared devices which send digitally-coded
pulses of infrared radiation to control functions such as power,
volume, channels, playback, track change, heat, fan speed, or
other features varying from device to device. Remote controls for
these devices are usually small wireless handheld objects with an
array of buttons for adjusting various settings such as television
channel, track number, and volume. For many devices, the
remote control contains all the function controls while the
controlled device itself has only a handful of essential primary
controls. The remote control code, and thus the required remote
control device, is usually specific to a product line, but there
are universal remotes, which emulate the remote control made for
most major brand devices.