If you bring latex balloons into the hospital, staff will politely take them from you or remove them from floral bouquets. The ban is not meant to discourage well-wishers, but latex allergy is a serious health risk for three to six percent of the general population and 10 to 17 percent of health care workers. Latex balloons are dangerous because they contain large amounts of the allergen protein as well as powder which absorbs latex proteins. When a balloon is inflated, deflated, popped, or handled, the powder is free to contaminate the air. Those who are at the highest risk for latex allergy are people who have had more contact with it, such as health care workers and people who have had numerous surgeries or procedures and have a history of allergies.
People become more sensitive to latex from repeated contact.
If you would like to bring balloons to a patient, Mylar or foil balloons are safe choices. All rights reserved. Site hosted and maintained by WINS .