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https://theconversation.com/reusing-medical-equipment-is-good-for-the-planet-but-is-it-safe-265681>
"Even a short stay in hospital produces a large amount of waste. Just picture
all the disposable items designed to be used once and thrown away: face masks,
gloves, packaging, intravenous tubing, and even equipment such as stainless
steel scissors.
This kind of single-use medical equipment was first introduced in high-income
countries in the 1960s, thanks to advances in plastic manufacturing and a
growing emphasis on infection prevention and control.
About 85% of the waste single-use products create is nonhazardous and can be
recycled or disposed of without special processing. But a lot of the time it’s
not sorted correctly. This means it is often mixed with hazardous waste that
has to be incinerated before it is sent to landfill, which increases greenhouse
gas emissions.
Our new study tested replacing just one kind of item – single-use absorbent
pads, known as “blueys” – with a reusable version in the intensive care unit
(ICU).
Blueys are pads made of layered tissue paper, with a plastic waterproof
backing. They’re placed under patients to protect bedding and absorb bodily
fluids such as blood and urine during patient care and other procedures.
We wanted to know how much waste could be diverted from landfill by replacing
these single-use products with reusable linen – and importantly, whether it was
safe and hygienic for patients. Here’s what we found."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
