04.03.2019

Why Indoor Air Quality in Healthcare Facilities is So Important

We’re currently in the middle of the flu season, and it goes without saying that we need to be extra careful at this time of year when it comes to protecting ourselves and others. During such a time as this, poor indoor air quality in healthcare facilities can make a single instance of illness flash through a building, resulting in a breakout. Such unwanted circumstances can unfold at any time if not managed carefully with proper humidity control. Therefore, let’s explore why fresh, clean and sufficiently hydrated air matters so much in healthcare environments.

Greater Demand: No Time for Downtime

Contagions can quickly infect multiple hosts, spreading illness like a wildfire. This is the last thing we want to happen when healthcare staff are at their busiest. It can lengthen recovery periods for some patients or put lives at risk. Even outside of flu season, healthcare systems around the world are seeing dramatic spikes in demand, primarily due to the baby boomer population reaching an age when they require more care.

Airborne Infection Control

Infectious particles such as influenza strains are contained in aerosols, which are automatically dispersed by humans when they cough, speak, and even breath. In low relative humidity, these particles travel more freely through the air and have a much higher potential to infect people in a shared space. By maintaining 40 to 60 percent relative humidity, healthcare facilities will improve their airborne infection control. At these RH levels, aerosols will not be able to decrease their weight and will therefore have faster settling rates. This reduces the number of airborne infectious particles, giving healthcare workers a fighting chance at reducing the risk of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs).

Protection of Sensitive Equipment

Healthcare environments are full of expensive, much-needed medical equipment used to diagnose patients, administer treatments, and perform life-saving surgeries. By limiting the presence of electrostatic buildup to protect against discharges, this equipment is less likely to become damaged, have its data wiped, or become unusable. Proper humidity control may also protect heart patients from serious shocks that could otherwise put their lives at risk.

Indoor air quality in healthcare facilities is critical to ensuring airborne infection control and efficient care, now more than ever. Learn more about Condair’s application-focused humidification solutions by contacting our team today – we’re happy to help ensure your facility has a proactive solution in place.

https://www.condair.com/m/0/16-72-middletown-home-case-study.pdf

https://www.condair.com/humidifiernews/blog-overview/3-influenza-prevention-strategies