Prefenz Hand Sanitizers -- Giveaway!

I was approached by Stacy at Prefenz to try out their hand sanitizer.  I'm very picky on the types of products I review and host as a giveaway, and I asked why she felt her hand sanitizer was a green product.  Because this product contains no alcohol, and it's strong enough to only need to use it once a day it fit the bill.

Their product claims every day protection against bacteria, viruses, and fungi.   I'm no scientist, and I can't say the product does what it says it does.  I will say, I used it my entire vacation while traveling to Virginia.  Airplanes can be gross!  I used it on my kids and on myself while we were traveling and no one got sick.  I also have very sensitive and dry skin, and this product seemed less harsh on my skin the the conventional alternatives.  The active ingredient is amosilq silica complex.  Google it.

Here are some things you should know about prefenz.

1. Like I said before, there is no alcohol. Prefenz is made of all-natural ingredients and has absolutely NO alcohol in it.

2. Their technology protects you for 24 hours or 10 hand washings.

3. Prefenz is non-toxic and safe for kids!

4. Prefenz is silica based which means it doesn’t dry out your hands like traditional alcohol sanitizers. It actually smoothes and softens your hands.

5. Prefenz protects against staph, strep, E.coli, drug resistant MRSA strains, and more.

6. Because “one spray lasts all day” their 1.5 oz Prefenz Botanicals Hand Sanitizer offers 120 applications, costing only $.08 per day, compared to $1.20 per day with alcohol hand sanitizers.

Prefenz has generously offered to do a giveaway. Up for grabs is their 8 oz. bottle of hand sanitizer, yours to try free. Leave a comment for each separate entry. Here's a list of ways to enter:

1. Follow Green Momma using Google Friend Connect, just click the Follow button on the right.
2. Follow Green Momma on Facebook.
3. Follow Green Momma on Twitter @greenmomma
4. Follow Prefrenz on Facebook.
5. Follow Prefrenz on Twitter.

This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only. Good luck everyone!! The winner will be picked January 14th at 10:00pm EST.

Prefenz Winner!

Congratulations to Christina F.  She won the 8 oz. bottle of Prefenz Hand Sanitizer.  An e-mail will be sent to you, so be sure to check for it. :)

 Be sure to check out their website for more information on their products.

TGIF!!

The flu craze

About three weeks ago, I noticed. People on my facebook feed getting sick. It's the flu. It starts with a fever of about 103 out of nowhere. Sniffles, cough, and generally feeling like they got hit with a mac truck. It seems to take about 7-10 days to get over.

image source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/03/flu-cdc-fluview/1742225/

I started doing research about the flu, and it's really hard to get a straight answer anywhere. So, my non-medical, non-doctor like self put together some stuff I could find. It was pathetically little.

 Here are some facts.

1.  The flu has many different strains. This year's flu vaccine was designed to protect you from H2N3, an influenza b virus (I love how vague that was), and H1N1 (the bird flu). Not all vaccines are created equal, and not all of them contain all three.
2.  The flu vaccine is 70-90% effective against the strains it contains.
3.  The predominant strain going around right now is strain H2N3.
4.  You can get your flu shot, and still catch the flu.



What you should do.

1.  Stay calm. Stop listening to the media, they sensationalize everything and blow EVERYTHING out of proportion.
2.  If you haven't gotten a flu shot, you need to decide if you want one. I'm not going to tell you to run out and get one. You need to make an informed decision on your own if you want one or not.
3.  Keep hand sanitizer around. Wash your hands frequently, and when you're out in public make a conscious effort not to touch your face.

What I think.

1. I think politicians are swayed to press the vaccine. I think pharmaceutical companies lobby so much, and invest so much in politicians that we hear get the vaccine all the time.  Think for yourself.
2. I think that because we homeschool, and aren't out in the general public every day that it's not necessary for my family to be vaccinated.

What I do.

1.  My family and I have not, and will not get the flu vaccine.
2. I did a Prefenz giveaway, a while back and I still have some of their product.  I use it on our hands, and what makes it different is that it is also an antiviral, anti-fungal along with it's antibiotic properties.  I feel this helps protect us when we're out to at least help with the flu.  Most hand sanitizers are only antibiotics, and will not help you against the flu.
3.  We eat a healthy diet and keep ourselves in the best physical health we can.

What I will do if we get the flu.

1.  If my husband or I get the flu, we'll stay home take care of each other until we're well.  We'll look out for bacterial infections along with it.  Usually those are noticeable when you start to feel better, and then feel crappy again.
2.  If either one of my kids get sick, we'll take them to their pediatrician immediately.  Children I feel need to have immediate help from their doctor to make sure it doesn't turn into pneumonia.  I will also watch for secondary bacterial infections.



I'd love to know what you do.  Did your family get their flu shot?


Sources:

1. New York Health
2. FDA
3. Flu Shot info
4.CDC Admits flue Vaccine's don't work