[PACU RN]

Does anyone have info on policies in place at your hospitals for banning latex balloons (either for latex allergies or for the risks to children/choking hazards)..and where do you confiscate the balloons/where are they kept if a family member brings them in? do you have signs posted at entrances?

[nursinghumor]

In most places they are banned outright. Here's one example.

BALLOONS AT US NAVAL HOSPITAL ROTA:"US Naval Hospital-Rota is committed to ensuring a safe environment for patients and their families. As a result, increased information about the potential choking hazards associated with balloons and young children has led the Command to prohibit the use of latex (rubber) balloons throughout the institution. Latex balloons will no longer be allowed at the hospital for gifts or for use as decorations at hospital events, nor will the hospital accept deliveries of latex balloons from florists."
https://lemoore.med.navy.mil/safety/...ospital_ro.htm

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursingmail.com

[cassioo]

I just loved when I worked on peds the visitors would make balloons from the gloves in the room.... one of those fingers is just perfect for a kid to suck on. We get deliveries of whatever kinds of balloons the florists bring in.

[Aaron C.]

well, I'm glad this thread isn't in the male nurses forum. If you saw the search terms for the visitors to that forum thanks to TracyR's "male nurses in panties" post, you'd know why. There are some sick/crazy people out there...and theres a reason why that post has been viewed 39,178 times. It's not from nurses. Throw in the words latex and pics and we'd set a record

[nursinghumor]

Hey, different strokes for different folks. Just because a person might not want to acknowledge people with what we consider strange fetishes and ways to get a thrill, doesn't mean they don't exist.

There's a whole industry built around latex and it has nothing to do with rubber gloves or condoms.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursefriendly.com

[udali]

The hospital where I am on assignment not only does not ban the latex balloons but during a recent parking sticker drive they put dozens of latex balloons at the entrance to the cafeteria. This is an area with very poor air circulation, by the 4th day I was having breathing difficulties. One of the cafeteria workers said she was having trouble breathing. I suggested it might be the balloons at her register and she removed them. The next night she had no problems breathing at all.

[nursinghumor]

Maybe they're waiting for someone to go anaphylactic or die before they'll pay attention to the issue.

Going latex-free is quite expensive for a hospital. Gotta figure it's cheaper to settle a few lawsuits first.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursefriendly.com

[udali]

Sucking on a latex balloon/glove is a good way to get an obstructed airway. If it pops, part of the rubber may go down the trachea..