Many of us may take for granted our access to such care, but those who have been diagnosed with an allergy, any allergy, know that the common advice is to avoid the allergen. While it's relatively easy to avoid penicillin or seafood, it's virtually impossible to avoid latex in a health care environment. Nurses need to know that persistence on this issue can really pay off. Latex allergy is not just a health care workers' issue, but a relevant one for all people. We must be prepared to treat safely those already sensitive to latex, and we must prevent the potential harm of sensitization to natural rubber latex.
Education remains crucial.
Other states have presented similar legislation regarding latex since Oregon's initial attempt. If there is legislation pending in your state, please offer your support. If there is no legislation in your state, contact your elected representatives to get some written. Although Oregon's Senate bill did not pass, it educated lawmakers and the general public. People who had never heard of latex allergy and initially thought it a joke are now aware of the facts.