OLYMPIA — Government agencies are warning the public about the dangers of hand sanitizers containing methanol.

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries issued a notice on Monday relaying information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which named a manufacturer of hand sanitizer that may contain methanol.

The FDA advises consumers not to use any hand sanitizer manufactured by “Eskbiochem SA de CV” in Mexico, due to the potential presence of methanol, a “toxic alcohol,” as an active ingredient. It can cause blindness or death when absorbed through the skin or when swallowed. The FDA has identified additional ABHSR products that contain methanol and is working with manufacturers and distributors on a voluntary recall of these products.

Hand hygiene is an important part of the response to the emergence of COVID-19 in the United States. Practicing hand hygiene, which includes using ABHSR, is a simple and effective way to decrease the spread of pathogens and infections. Commercially available ABHSR usually contain either ethanol or isopropanol. However, some ABHSR that were manufactured in Mexico have been found to contain a significant amount of methanol, the notice states. Repeated use of these products on the skin may result in methanol poisoning. The highest risk is from swallowing ABHSR products containing methanol.

The notice gives recommendations for the public. It recommends that you seek immediate medical attention if you have swallowed alcohol-based hand sanitizer or rub or are experiencing symptoms from repeated use of these products on your skin and contact your poison center (1-800-222-1222) for advice. Signs and symptoms include headache, blurred vision or blindness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of coordination and decreased alertness.

Do not swallow any alcohol-based hand sanitizers or rubs. These chemicals are not intended for human consumption and can lead to serious health issues, including death.

Only use alcohol-based hand sanitizers or rubs for their intended purpose — to clean hands.

Keep alcohol-based hand sanitizers or rubs out of reach of children and supervise their use.

Check your hand sanitizer products against the “FDA’s testing and manufacturer’s recalls” list online. If your product is on this list, stop using the product and dispose of it immediately in appropriate hazardous waste containers; do not flush or pour them down the drain.