Guest guest Posted June 24, 2000 Report Share Posted June 24, 2000 The incidence of latex allergies is increasing. A recent study fount 6.4% of 1000 blood donors to have IgE antibodies to latex. The incidence in health care workers may be as high as 17%, and it is at least double or triple that in spina bifida patients, the highest risk group. There are currently over 250 latex allergy lawsuits in progress in the US. At least one state, Wisconsin, has a law requiring all ambulances to carry a latex-free treatment kit. In a sensitized individual contact with latex or even with cornstarch used to powder latex gloves can cause anything from a rash to immediate anaphylaxis. Therefore this would seem to be a risk management issue for EMS services. Questions: To the educators: What are you teaching about latex allergies and do you have any policy/procedure in place to identify students with latex allergies? To EMS providers: Do you have policies/procedures in place regarding (1) employees with latex allergies and (2) treatment of patients with latex allergies? Do you have non-latex supplies available on every ambulance? Do you require employees to ask the patient (where possible) about latex allergy or look for a medic alert bracelet prior to touching the patient with latex gloves? Have any of you talked this over with your risk managers, insurors, or attorneys, and if so, with what result? Do you see this as a problem that needs to be addressed? Gene Gandy, JD, LP EMSP Program Director Tyler Junior College Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2000 Report Share Posted June 25, 2000 Gene, We’ve changed to the Nitrile gloves. We also carry a non-latex kit for those patients identified as latex sensitive. As for identifying the patients, to date, they are quite forward about alerting us to their sensitivity. Tom , Director of Education/EMS Graham Regional Medical Center 1301 Montgomery Road Graham, Texas 76450 wright@... Latex Allergies The incidence of latex allergies is increasing. A recent study fount 6.4% of 1000 blood donors to have IgE antibodies to latex. The incidence in health care workers may be as high as 17%, and it is at least double or triple that in spina bifida patients, the highest risk group. There are currently over 250 latex allergy lawsuits in progress in the US. At least one state, Wisconsin, has a law requiring all ambulances to carry a latex-free treatment kit. In a sensitized individual contact with latex or even with cornstarch used to powder latex gloves can cause anything from a rash to immediate anaphylaxis. Therefore this would seem to be a risk management issue for EMS services. Questions: To the educators: What are you teaching about latex allergies and do you have any policy/procedure in place to identify students with latex allergies? To EMS providers: Do you have policies/procedures in place regarding (1) employees with latex allergies and (2) treatment of patients with latex allergies? Do you have non-latex supplies available on every ambulance? Do you require employees to ask the patient (where possible) about latex allergy or look for a medic alert bracelet prior to touching the patient with latex gloves? Have any of you talked this over with your risk managers, insurors, or attorneys, and if so, with what result? Do you see this as a problem that needs to be addressed? Gene Gandy, JD, LP EMSP Program Director Tyler Junior College _____ <http://click./1/4322/9/_/4981/_/961904095/> <http://click./1/4322/9/_/4981/_/961904095/> _____ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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