Facts about Latex !!
med.jhu.edu
In the early '90s, up to 1,100 injuries associated with latex protein
were reported (many in health care workers). In addition, 15 deaths
associated with a single medical device, an NRL cuff to barium enema
catheres (all manufactured by a single manufacturer), were investigated
for the hypothesis that the latex had caused the deaths. Prevalence in
that population was estimated at between 5% and 10%. In the general
population, it hovered at 1%. Research published in 1996 shows that an
estimated 17% of the healthcare population has been affected by the
latex syndrome, while 6% of the general population is currently
affected. In just a few years, that's a large jump in the number of
sufferers.
FATAL ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK
WHAT DOES A potentially fatal anaphylactic shock look like? For those
who have grown hypersensitive to latex through chronic exposure
(including at work), 15 minutes after sufferers are exposed to latex
proteins, their faces get flushed and red, their voices change and
crack, they have a hard time speaking, become short of breath, start
throwing up, begin to wheeze, and the skin around their necks retracts
-- folding around their bones, using the accessory muscles in an effort
to get air into their lungs.
If injections of epinephrine, along with a bronco-dilator and steroids
are not given quickly -- to block the histamine release that causes the
cascade of potentially fatal symptoms -- they will suffocate and die.
Why don't allergic individuals simply switch to gloves made of vinyl or Nitrile? Switching doesn't help if co-workers are still wearing latex gloves and sending aerosolized proteins into the air every time they turn around. And even if everyone agrees to switch to vinyl gloves, the substance is everywhere: in I.V. tubing, ambu bags, ventilators, blood pressure cuffs,catheters, and many other medical devices.
The cost is to great financially and more important our lifes not to replace Latex from the healthcare sector.
Looking forward to the development of our company and the financial rewards to all stockholders.
Regards,
R.T
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