Reiterates Warning About Dangerous Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers

September 21, 2020
Row firefighting tactics

NIOSH Row Firefighting Tactics Factsheet-Poster

NIOSH in collaboration with the International Fire Chiefs Association, International Fire Fighters Association, National Volunteer Fire Council, UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute, and the U.S. Fire Administration developed a fact sheet and poster that highlight tactics for fighting row house fires. In addition to the row house firefighting tactics, the fact sheet and poster highlight: areas for potential fire extension typical exterior and interior features of row houses as well as the construction and materials often used to build such structures quotes from a reputable fire officer and firefighter additional resources, including a basement fire video from the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute NIOSH recommends distributing the fact sheet to firefighters as part of training efforts and displaying posters in common areas of the fire department.
July 15, 2020

Dangerous Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Takes Action to Warn, Protect Consumers from Dangerous Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol As part of continued action to protect the American public, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers and health care professionals about hand sanitizer products containing methanol, or wood alcohol — a substance often used to create fuel and antifreeze that is not an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitizer products and can be toxic when absorbed through the skin as well as life-threatening when ingested. The agency has seen an increase in hand sanitizer products that are labeled to contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but that have tested positive for methanol contamination. State officials have also reported recent adverse events from adults and children ingesting hand sanitizer products contaminated with methanol, including blindness, hospitalizations and death. See this webpage for a full list of hand sanitizers we urge consumers not to use: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-hand-sanitzers-methanol