You know how essential it is to ensure the safety of both yourself and your patients during surgery. Unfortunately, one of the most significant risks in the operating room is sharps injuries caused by suture needles. That’s why you need strategies in place to minimize these incidents.
1. Use a Standardized Needle Trap
By self-securing the needles at the point of use, you can eliminate the risk of exposure to contaminated needles with a standardized needle trap. This renders both tips of the suture needles safe to handle, which improves safety and efficiency while following AORN guidelines.
2. Secure Needles Immediately
This leaves nothing to chance. Utilizing a needle trap in the operating room ensures all needles are secured immediately by covering both tips of each contaminated needle, which reduces the risk of exposure.
3. Think Beyond Traditional Methods
Think about some of the equipment you had to work with 10 or 20 years ago compared to what’s available today. Keeping up with the latest advancements is critical, especially with the recent emphasis on surgical safety. Needle traps are a prime example, but they’re not the only ones. For example, a robotic and laparoscopic closure system also improves safety and surgical workflow efficiency.
4. Take Advantage of Sharps Safety Awareness Month Each Dec.
Needle sticks reportedly account for 400,000 sharps injuries every year.
That’s why International Sharps Injury Prevention Awareness Month is a reminder every December to follow safety protocols regarding needles and other medical sharps.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, which requires facilities to track and annually document all uses of innovative and new medical devices. You can meet this requirement for the upcoming year by scheduling an evaluation of the needle trap during Sharps Safety Awareness Month.
Contact Sharp Fluidics to learn more about needle trap devices.
