Date Posted:16:43:11 07/26/08 Sat Author: Angela Subject: Re: latex free hospital In reply to:
lauren tate
's message, "latex free hospital" on 11:04:41 07/17/08 Thu
Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC) in Flagstaff, AZ is suppose to be latex free, so perhaps you should contact them for advice on how to go latex free.
You might consult W.L. Gore as they are suppose to make only latex free medical devices now. But I don't know if they make catheters other than heart catheters.
Also seriously look into your bandaging supplies as many bandages claim "hypoallergenic" but are not. Sparkle and Johnson and Johnson are the only bandages I have found I do not react to. Johnsons has a hypoallergenic tape which I can use without problem yet doctor's offices have used other brands of hypallergenic paper tape on me and I react within minutes getting an oozing, bubbly rash under the tape that becomes infected and itchy.
But as far as deciding what items to use you should go latex free as its more cost effective in the long run. Buying both latex and non latex items costs more because you are buying 2 different items at smaller quantities versus buying a larger quantity of one item. Not to mention cost of liability should you use a latex device on someone who has latex allergy, but is unconscious or confused and cannot tell you or someone who reacts to latex for the first time. You never know when a latex allergy will emerge. Plus latex free protects the medical providers from getting the allergy.
Finally, while looking at becoming a latex free hospital don't forget to ban balloons. Also be sure you protect the tiniest patients as many hospitals forget about the latex in baby bottle nipples. I volunteered at a hospital once and witnessed a preemie labeled with latex allergy being fed with a latex nipple. Oh and another overlooked item is the latex seals in vials of injectible medications and vaccines.
