Chilling Information About Indoor Air Quality in Surgical Centers

If you’ve ever had a medical procedure in an outpatient surgical center, you don’t need us to tell you that these places keep their thermostats set to Brrrr! The reasoning behind this, we’re told, is that the cold temperature of the indoor air reduces the chances of infection. The science-oriented pros at AirMD, a leading provider of formaldehyde testing and mold inspections in Florida, have something to say about that.

Indoor Air Quality Testing for Healthcare Industry

When most people think about indoor air quality, they think about things like testing for VOCs, asbestos inspections and mold remediation. Boca Raton-based AirMD also works with the healthcare industry to test for bacteria, perform HVAC system assessments and run building diagnostics.

It may sound reasonable that keeping the environment cold would deter the growth of bacteria and reduce infection, but it’s not just about what’s good or bad for toxic growth. You have to factor the human body into the equation.

“One of the critical factors to preventing infection is the adequacy of blood flow and the supply of oxygen to tissues. When in a cold environment, the blood vessels of your skin constrict (that’s why your skin turns pale in cold weather). Your body constricts blood vessels in cold environments so as not to waste heat—a process called thermoregulation,” the experts at VeryWellHealth.com explain. “The second factor is that your immune system is actually weakened by hypothermia. Therefore, maintaining normal body temperature during surgery will help your body fight infection.”

Being Cold Isn’t Cool

The folks at VeryWellHealth.com, who have a theory that operating rooms are actually kept cool for the comfort of medical personnel – especially the surgeon, encourage you to lookout for your health if you’re in a cold treatment area by taking the following steps:

• Ask that the room be kept at a reasonable temperature.
• Let the staff know when you are cold and ask for warm blankets.
• Special warming devices can be used to keep you warm during surgery while not warming the entire room. Ask your anesthesiologist about using such a device.

If you work in the healthcare industry, we know the welfare of your patients is your top priority. If you want to be sure that your facilities are helping to promote healthy, please ask us about comprehensive Wellness Testing. As a scientific-based environmental testing company, AirMD can provide a clear picture through professional services – ranging from Asbestos Testing and Mold Inspections to Water Quality Testing – and prepare a detailed protocol to correct any issues that are discovered during the assessment.

To schedule an appointment, call 1-888-462-4763 or 1-888-GO-AIRMD.