BIOHAZARD SAFETY
In
recent years, the issue of biohazard exposure has received increased
attention and scrutiny. With the prevalence of life threatening diseases
that are attributable to transmission of bodily fluids and other biohazards,
it is important to integrate covering fabrics into the design
of institutional mattresses that provide a higher degree of protection from
biohazards.
Standard cloth fabrics that
fail to block these fluids and other forms of contaminants can cause health
problems well beyond the simple stained appearance. Staining on the exterior
of the mattress is an aesthetic problem; but on the interior, there can be
fungal or bacterial growth and an accumulation of allergens that may trigger
an adverse reaction in students. PVC that cracks can provide a path for such
contaminants into the mattress core.
University Sleep Products uses state of the art materials such as SOFlux OX® as a biohazard barrier for our institutional
mattresses. SOFlux OX® is a fluidproof, cleanable fabric
originally designed for use in healthcare mattresses and has been in service
for more than ten years. As opposed to traditional cotton or polyester ticking, or even
fire resistant ticking like Firegard®, SOFlux OX®
provides you with performance that
resists the passage of biohazards into the inner mattress areas. In
addition, SOFlux OX®
may be wiped clean and disinfected with standard phenolic or quaternary type
disinfectants (the inclusion of anti-microbial agents in the manufacturing
of the fabric further assists in the inhibition of growth of staphylococcus aureus and aspergillus niger).
* The magnified
photos at left
show relative growth of surface fungus on test swatches of cloth
and SOFlux OX® mattress ticking. As
you can see, SOFlux OX®
exhibits superior resistance to growth of micro-organisms such as surface
growing fungus. These
micro-organisms can cause unpleasant odors, mold and mildew growth or even
adverse reactions in allergic persons.
* =
This test was performed by an ISO 9002 certified independent laboratory
using test method CAN/CGSB-4.2-M91 method 28.2.
PROTECT
YOURSELF
Without the protection offered by SOFlux OX®
you may find yourself in a profoundly risky situation. In some quarters, mold is
being labeled the “asbestos of the new millennium” and early indications are
that the litigation related to mold may be just as costly. The selection of
materials that are engineered to mitigate such risks in all of your purchasing
activities is one part of a prudent overall strategy to reduce your potential
exposure and liability from such hazards.
Below
are some
excerpts describing the growing risk from biohazards:
-
Legislation is being considered that will protect the public from adverse health
effects related to mold in residential and commercial properties.
Cleanfax/
November 2001
-
Fungi,
including molds, can cause a range of health problems, from fatigue to allergic
reactions, asthma, and in some cases, even death.
American
Journal of Nursing/ August 2001
-
Universities are being sued, schools are being closed and juries are awarding
huge judgments because of litigations linked to mold.
ACUHO-I
Talking Stick/ November 2001
SOFLUX OX®
CLEANING RECOMMENDATIONS
-
ROUTINE CARE: Wipe Clean
with neutral soap suds and lukewarm water.
-
DISINFECTION: Most
phenolic or quaternary type disinfectants can be used on our SOFlux OX®
covered mattresses. User must dilute disinfectants and germicides in accordance
with manufacturer's instructions.
-
BLOOD CONTAMINATION: Contamination with blood on SOFlux OX® can be disinfected with a 1:10
dilution of household bleach in water (5.25% sodium hypochlorite) as recommended
by the CDC (US Department of Health and Human Services, February 1989).
-
WARNING: Iodophor type
disinfectants (Betadine, for example) will stain SOFlux OX® fabric.
Prolonged
contact with bleach solutions, improper dilution ratios for any cleaning agent,
or poor rinsing of fabric surface after disinfecting and cleaning may cause
damage to both the appearance and performance of this fabric.
To submit a quote request online, proceed to
Online Quote Request
for more information
and a price quote tailored to fit the needs of your institution.
University Sleep Products,
Inc.
Leaders in Innovative Mattress Technology
Phone: 800-548-2072 Fax: 800-548-2072
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info@universitysleep.com