Do you have any recommendations to help our facility “go green” in relation to wound care?
The following suggestions will help curb packaging and other waste, reduce energy consumption, cut the use of harmful chemicals and help the environment:
1. Use extended wear wound dressings.
2. Use non-sterile 4×4 loaf packages instead of single packaged sterile 4x4s.
3. For patients who require frequent wound irrigation or have large wounds, use large cans/bottles of saline/wound cleanser versus using individual 30cc saline bullets.
4. For residents in protective isolation, review continued need for isolation practices on a weekly basis and discontinue as soon as clinically possible.
5. For facility bathing needs, purchase bulk concentrated bath soaps for use with dispensers versus cases of individually bottled soaps.
6. Autoclave instruments for reuse and avoid using disposable scissors and suture removal kits.
7. Use a reusable cloth stockinette for dressing securement instead of Kerlix and tapes.
8. Reduce the amount of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-containing products or equipment used.
9. Emphasize electronic rather than paper record-keeping systems and communications. If using paper, only use 100% recycled paper.
10. Purchase products from manufacturers that offer environmentally friendly products and packaging.
From the September 01, 2008 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
