Why Medical Facilities Need Hyperbaric Linens
Hyperbaric linen is an absolutely necessity in Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers. If your hospital or clinic isn’t using Hyperbaric Linen in your Hyperbaric Chambers, you’re playing a dangerous game with potentially fatal consequences.
What is Hyperbaric Linen
Hyperbaric linens consist of gowns, bedding, and pillowcases that are made from 100% cotton or another anti-static material.
Why Cotton?
Cotton, unlike wool, silk, or polyester, does not generate a static charge. Because Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) uses pure oxygen, and pure oxygen is an unstoppable accelerant with the slightest ignition and fuel source, it’s important that only approved materials are allowed inside the chamber.
But Oxygen Isn’t Flammable
That’s true, but it is one of the three components that are needed to generate fire: a fuel source and ignition are the others. When a hyperbaric chamber is filled with oxygen, fuel can be anything flammable, and a spark is all it takes to turn treatment into tragedy.
In the real-life case of a young boy and his grandmother, all it took was a static-inducing adjustment of a non-approved pillow to engulf their chamber in fire. The components in this case were the oxygen, the pillow (fuel), and the static discharge (ignition).
How Common Are HBOT Fires?
Because HBOT is a regulated, highly specialized treatment, and its applications are still being discovered, incidents are not very frequent. Between 1923 and 2000, there have been 81 recorded deaths caused by 32 fires in HBOT chambers. Tightened safety regulations and practices have improved the rate of mishaps, but occasionally, tragedy strikes.
The main cause of these events are negligence in some form or another, and no medical concentration is safe from it. Most recently, veterinarians have been at the forefront of botched HBOT sessions.
How Often is Static to Blame?
Of those 32 fires, 7 were caused by static discharge. That’s nearly 20%. The other causes were from more clearly preventable sources like electrical shorts, smoking, and toys.
What makes static the scariest cause of these accidents is that it only takes a very small oversight to set the stage for disaster. Smoking, electronics, toys, and cellphones are generally prohibited inside HBOT chambers, and their presence and subsequent cause of their fires is tragic, but not surprising.
Static isn’t a major oversight that leads to tragedy. It’s simply caused by the wrong material in the wrong place at the worst moment.
HandCraft is Your Certified HBOT Linen Provider
You should never have to question the quality and safety of your hyperbaric linens. Don’t risk working with inexperienced, unaccredited, or careless providers. Go with HandCraft Linen and Uniform Specialists, and lead your patients to health with confidence. Call us today for more information at (888) 358-8671.
