Operating rooms are considered to be one of the most important areas of a hospital. There are specific requirements for maintaining the overall safety and sterility of the OR unit. It is also thought to be one of the most closely monitored areas of a hospital for several reasons.
What many of these reasons have in common is the over all temperature of the operating room and environmental conditions. An example would be requests from surgeons for colder operating room temperatures. Imagine being a surgeon, working in the OR unit for hours on a patient. You’re surrounded by technicians, assistants, nurses, in a relatively small space and it’s getting somewhat warm, especially in that pair of scrubs! It’s only a matter of time before you request to lower the temperature in the room. But unfortunately, the room can be lowered only to a certain temperature before it is considered dangerous or unsafe to the patient.
Did you know that it can be equally as dangerous leaving an operating room too warm? If an operating room is raised to a warm temperature, the risk of sweat and bacterial organisms can spread, leaving the patient at risk for infectious diseases.
Leaving the room too warm is also the leading cause of “raining” in the operating room. As temperatures rise, so does the buildup of humidity.
Warm Temperatures = Excessive Humidity = ‘Raining’ in the operating room
Excessive humidity can also make the room feel hotter than it really is.
When the room is kept at a higher temperature, condensation is likely to appear on ceilings (which can be unsterile), operating equipment, and any surfaces. This can also impose as a serious health risk to patients, especially those who have open wounds.
The CDC adopts the American Institute of Architects parameters for operating room ventilation:
- Temperatures should range from 68-73 °F
- Humidity should range from 30-60%
To prevent any ‘raining’ in the operating room, temperature and humidity should be closely monitored at all times.
MadgeTech provides real-time monitoring with the RFRHTemp2000A wireless humidity and temperature data logger. With a temperature range of -20 °C to 60 °C and a humidity range of 0% RH to 95% RH, the RFRHTemp200A provides a fast response time for both parameters. The digital display provides real time monitoring for both humidity and temperature readings. The logger comes equipped with an audible buzzer and LED alarm, indicating users when the temperature or humidity is above or below the specified ranges set in the alarm. This is an ideal product for operating rooms that can prevent ‘raining’ before it happens. For more information, please contact us today!
