Surgical masks have always played an important role in preventive medicine. With the advent of Swine and Bird flu, surgical masks have gained even more significance in the world of medicine. Surgical masks were once only worn in hospitals by health care professional and patients. Surgical masks help protect health care workers from bodily fluids, blood, various lung secretions and reduce spread of microorganisms from patients to health care worker and vice versa.
Since the advent of influenza virus, two other airborne viruses have been discovered that have the potential to cause many deaths. Large-scale pandemics of bird and swine flu viral infections have led to use of surgical masks outside health care facilities. The availability of relatively cheap surgical masks has led to high usage among populations in South East Asia. In many Oriental countries, use of surgical masks is a frequent public site to help avoid spread of the common cold virus.
Since the Bird flu scare several years ago, surgical masks have become popular among the public in many parts of America, including Canada and Mexico. There is abundant clinical evidence indicating that surgical masks play an important role in protecting health care workers from contaminated body fluids and aerosol particles. Surgical masks are primarily worn in hospital to prevent inhalation of aerosolized particles including microorganisms.
Awareness of serious viral and bacterial infections has led to development of guidelines regarding use of surgical masks in many health care facilities. Today, surgical masks are advocated for health care professional by the following institutions:
- American National Standards Institute Practice for
Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection
- Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses
- Joint Council on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
- National Committee for Quality Assurance
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- The Food and Drug Administration
For more on surgical masks, please visit www.medexsupply.com
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Eye Protection in health care facilities: Part 2
What types of safety eye wear is available for hospital workers?
The presently available safety eyewear include:
- non prescription eye glasses
- prescription safety glasses
- goggles
- Face shields that are combined with a surgical mask
Eye goggles are easy to use and do provide an important protective function. Before buying a pair of eye goggles one should look for the following features:
- are the goggles lightweight
- are the goggles easy to wear and comfortable
- Do the goggles protect against fluid splatter
- Do the goggles easily fog up?
- Are the lenses strong?
- Are the goggles resistant to chemicals and fluids?
- Are the goggles scratchproof?
It is highly recommended that one wear eye protection if there is any potential for eye injury. Today, OSHA standards require that all health care facilities make available to their staff appropriate eye protection. To be useful, the eyewear must be of the correct type for the risk encountered and correctly fitted.
Eye protection devices must be maintained if one wants them to last. The lenses should be regularly cleaned – dented, scratched or and soiled lenses can diminish vision and may be a factor in causing injury
For more on eye protection devices, please visit www.medexsupply.com
The presently available safety eyewear include:
- non prescription eye glasses
- prescription safety glasses
- goggles
- Face shields that are combined with a surgical mask
Eye goggles are easy to use and do provide an important protective function. Before buying a pair of eye goggles one should look for the following features:
- are the goggles lightweight
- are the goggles easy to wear and comfortable
- Do the goggles protect against fluid splatter
- Do the goggles easily fog up?
- Are the lenses strong?
- Are the goggles resistant to chemicals and fluids?
- Are the goggles scratchproof?
It is highly recommended that one wear eye protection if there is any potential for eye injury. Today, OSHA standards require that all health care facilities make available to their staff appropriate eye protection. To be useful, the eyewear must be of the correct type for the risk encountered and correctly fitted.
Eye protection devices must be maintained if one wants them to last. The lenses should be regularly cleaned – dented, scratched or and soiled lenses can diminish vision and may be a factor in causing injury
For more on eye protection devices, please visit www.medexsupply.com
Eye Protection in health care facilities: Part 1
Protection of the eye is very important in health care facilities. Each year thousands of health care workers are exposed to sick patients, contaminated aerosolized environments, infected body fluids, and blood. Surgeons especially are always at risk from flying fragments and body fluids during surgery. Despite protection from prescription glasses, a number of health care workers develop various types of eye injuries. Moreover, besides direct injury to the eye, there is always a potential for coming into contact with infectious organisms or blood.
When the eye is injured or infected, one has to miss work. This adds to loss of manpower and adds more stress on the already overworked workman’s compensation program. There is no dollar figure that can entirely replicate the personal toll these injuries take on injured health professionals.
Eye experts indicate that proper eye protection can significantly reduce incidence of eye injuries in hospitals and related facilities.
What are common causes of eye injuries in a hospital setting?
- Flying objects especially during surgery (blood particles,
bone chips, metal particles)
- Chemicals
- Aerosolized particles
- Fumes
- Laser beams
How can one prevent eye injury at work?
Eye injuries can be very serious and thus a preventive approach is ideal. All individuals who work in a hospital environment should know the following:
- location of nearest emergency eye wash basin
- be aware of all potential causes of eye injuries in
the working environment
- wear proper eye protection
- be familiar with use of eye goggles
If there is any chance that the eye may be injured at work, one should wear eye goggles. There are many types of protective eyewear available today and most work well. The choice of eye goggles is strictly personal.
When the eye is injured or infected, one has to miss work. This adds to loss of manpower and adds more stress on the already overworked workman’s compensation program. There is no dollar figure that can entirely replicate the personal toll these injuries take on injured health professionals.
Eye experts indicate that proper eye protection can significantly reduce incidence of eye injuries in hospitals and related facilities.
What are common causes of eye injuries in a hospital setting?
- Flying objects especially during surgery (blood particles,
bone chips, metal particles)
- Chemicals
- Aerosolized particles
- Fumes
- Laser beams
How can one prevent eye injury at work?
Eye injuries can be very serious and thus a preventive approach is ideal. All individuals who work in a hospital environment should know the following:
- location of nearest emergency eye wash basin
- be aware of all potential causes of eye injuries in
the working environment
- wear proper eye protection
- be familiar with use of eye goggles
If there is any chance that the eye may be injured at work, one should wear eye goggles. There are many types of protective eyewear available today and most work well. The choice of eye goggles is strictly personal.
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