What are the chemicals in those spray bottles?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

MOST STORES and supermarkets have been using spray bottles containing chemicals to coat customers hands as they enter the different stores. Do we know the chemicals inside these bottles? Some say alcohol, some say ‘sanitiser’, and for others, it is vinegar. While they do tell us that these are the contents in the spray bottles, how can we be so sure? Whatever the contents in these bottles, by extending our arms, we are giving that person implied consent to go ahead and spray it on to our hands. What is implied consent? Implied consent is giving another person the impression that you are in agreement by your actions. Once this happens, then the person has every right to believe that you have given them consent.

I suggest that the stores or supermarkets provide wipes for their customers, preferably those with 70 per cent isopropyl alcohol as that will be effective in killing the coronavirus and cause less suspicion. I also suggest that we wash our hands regularly and travel with antiseptics such as hand sanitisers and 70 per cent isopropyl alcohol.

We can also travel with disinfectants such as Lysol and disinfecting wipes to clean the surfaces before we come into contact with them. There is a difference between antiseptics and disinfectants that some people are not aware of. They are both effective in slowing down or ceasing the growth of microorganisms, but antiseptics are safe to use on the skin while disinfectants are to be used only to clean surfaces. While antiseptics are harmless to the skin, disinfectants can cause irritations and burns to the skin. Like bleach, vinegar is also a disinfectant, and so I implore the public not to be eager in extending their arms for chemicals in a spray bottle.

AMOY FRANCIS