Floor Suction Devices
Contain spilled fluids to reduce the risk of slip-and-fall injuries.
A
wet OR floor is an accident waiting to happen, especially
when you combine slippery conditions with OR team mem-
bers hurrying through a wilderness of cords and cables.
Stationing suction-powered devices or absorbent mats underfoot to
collect and contain spilled fluids as quickly as possible can help your
staff stay ahead of the runoff that would otherwise puddle on the
floor. In addition to providing a dry place to stand, some products also
offer anti-fatigue benefits for long cases. OSHA dictates that you keep
workroom floors as clean and dry as possible, but even without that
regulation it's clear that floor-based fluid management improves the
OR environment.
Here's a quick look at why it pays to collect fluid from the ground
up and 6 floor suction devices that can help you get it done.
• A more economical option than linens. Buying fluid management
products for your ORs may represent more of a direct cost than the
traditional method of scattering towels, blankets or bed sheets on wet
floors during and after procedures. If your facility sees even a moder-
ate volume of high-fluid cases, though, be sure to look at the big pic-
ture and ask the following questions.
How well do hospital linens absorb fluid waste? Do they reduce the
amount of mopping that needs to be done during room turnover?
How easy is gathering and removing them after a case? Do they put
staff at risk of exposure to potentially infectious materials? Does car-
rying heavy, sodden linens contaminate other environments or put
staff at risk of ergonomic injury? Do they substantially add to your
laundry service costs?
• Less mopping, faster turnovers. When you strategically place
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Thinking of Buying …
David Bernard
