Aids to Health — Part 2: Antiseptics, disinfectants, local defences and health organisations

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Lesson

Keeping Germs Out

Part 2 — chemicals that clean, the body's own defences, and organisations that look after health.

In this lesson you will

Concept

Table of what antiseptics are, where they are used, why they are mild and examples
Point	Detail
What they are	Mild chemicals that kill germs or stop them from growing
Used on	Living tissue: cuts, wounds, skin and hands
Why mild	A strong chemical would damage the living cells
Examples	Dilute hydrogen peroxide, tincture of iodine, boric acid, antiseptic creams and soaps

Concept

Table of what disinfectants are, where they are used, why not on skin and examples
Point	Detail
What they are	Strong chemicals that kill germs
Used on	Non-living things: floors, drains, toilets, clothes and instruments
Why not on skin	They are strong enough to harm living cells
Examples	Phenyl floor cleaner, bleaching powder, formalin, chlorine tablets in water