[ozmidwifery] Mercury thermometers with rectal Temperatures!!!
Hi all, Am I assume that they are using mercury glass thermometers? Mercury Thermometers have been banned for clinical use in hospitals in Australia for about 8 years now primarily due to the OH S concerns of the mercury and where to put the waste if one breaks, as they do. It was agreed (I am not sure if it was a Federal Govt thing or State)that mercury equipment would be replaced and not used in new buildings. Of course the same has been difficult to change with syphgmometers. Many Hg ones remain. The mercury once leaked gets caught in cracks on floors and walls and emit vapours for years. We have not used a mercury thermometer for more than 9 years in the unit I am at. Unfortunately many hospitals a very slow to remove these dreadful items and remain committed to exposing workers and clients exposed to mercury. Various articles are listed with the QNU/ANF featured in the Green left articles. I suggest you contact your WH S committees to see what they are doing about the use of mercury thermometers in this way. http://abcasiapacific.com/englishbites/stories/s505290.htm http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/1996/221/221p7.htm http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/1995/212/212p15.htm http://www.nursingworld.org/AJN/2001/sept/Health.htm http://www.nursingworld.org/ajn/1999/sep/heal099b.htm http://www.ranknfile-ue.org/h%26s0702.html http://www.securityworld.com/infocenter/the-dangers-of-mercury-fever-the rmometers/ http://www.nyhealth.gov/nysdoh/environ/hsees/mercury_brochures/hscommitt ee.htm Cheers Barb -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of sharon Sent: Tuesday, 24 January 2006 8:03 AM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] IV Synto for 3rd stage at the hospital i work in the paediatrician/neonatologist inisit on all newborns have a rectal temp done for the first temp. i have been told when questioning this from the clinical learning co-ordinator that there once was a baby who had a imperferated anus and this was not picked up until too late and the baby became very sick so it is protocol. also i was told that there is a difference in temperature as when i looked this subject up for my own interest if you take a temp axilla there is also many other factors which come into play such as the air temp and if the thermometer is accurately placed. the references i cant remember but the evidence suggested that for a accurate reading we should be taking temperatures rectally for infants and orally for adults not axilla and certainly not be the fold at the back of the newborns neck. regards - Original Message - From: brendamanning [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 12:11 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] IV Synto for 3rd stage How amazing, rectal temps are so archaic ! I thought they went out with PR exams to assess dilation. Poor you ! Keep questioning, that's how change happenseventually. With kind regards Brenda Manning www.themidwife.com.au - Original Message - From: Kylie Holden [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Monday, January 23, 2006 11:42 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] IV Synto for 3rd stage All debates regarding active v. physiological third stage aside, I was referring to women who have had a jelco put in for whatever reason (IV antibiotics in labour, epidurals, etc). I completely agree with you Brenda, that the number of women who didn't get their required dose of synto and who go on and have a (semi) physiological third stage are evidence in favour of safe, normal 3rd stage. Unfortuately this particular hospital doesn't take too kindly to students coming in and questioning their protocols! We learnt that the hard way when we (as students) tried not to take babies first temps rectally...a protocol was soon put in place that this MUST occur! Kylie From: brendamanning [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] IV Synto for 3rd stage Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 15:18:48 +1100 Kylie, We are presuming these are all high risk women you are dealing with as otherwise there would be no need for her to have a jelco in place ? I am including women who have epidurals in this category as this automatically makes them high risk once they've deviated from the 'body driven' course of labour. Otherwise... Why would a low risk woman : a. have a jelco in situ during labour ? b. need an oxytocic ? So assuming she is high risk you need to be very sure she gets the oxytocic, she really needs it as her body has had its input overridden by the initial intervention so it makes sense to flush the tubing ensure the accurate therapeutic dose is received. Maybe you might put some thought out there in your workplace about how all those women whose MW didn't flush they therefore didn't
Re: [ozmidwifery] Mercury thermometers with rectal Temperatures!!!
not not mercury we use digital thermometers - Original Message - From: B G [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 7:40 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Mercury thermometers with rectal Temperatures!!! Hi all, Am I assume that they are using mercury glass thermometers? Mercury Thermometers have been banned for clinical use in hospitals in Australia for about 8 years now primarily due to the OH S concerns of the mercury and where to put the waste if one breaks, as they do. It was agreed (I am not sure if it was a Federal Govt thing or State)that mercury equipment would be replaced and not used in new buildings. Of course the same has been difficult to change with syphgmometers. Many Hg ones remain. The mercury once leaked gets caught in cracks on floors and walls and emit vapours for years. We have not used a mercury thermometer for more than 9 years in the unit I am at. Unfortunately many hospitals a very slow to remove these dreadful items and remain committed to exposing workers and clients exposed to mercury. Various articles are listed with the QNU/ANF featured in the Green left articles. I suggest you contact your WH S committees to see what they are doing about the use of mercury thermometers in this way. http://abcasiapacific.com/englishbites/stories/s505290.htm http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/1996/221/221p7.htm http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/1995/212/212p15.htm http://www.nursingworld.org/AJN/2001/sept/Health.htm http://www.nursingworld.org/ajn/1999/sep/heal099b.htm http://www.ranknfile-ue.org/h%26s0702.html http://www.securityworld.com/infocenter/the-dangers-of-mercury-fever-the rmometers/ http://www.nyhealth.gov/nysdoh/environ/hsees/mercury_brochures/hscommitt ee.htm Cheers Barb -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of sharon Sent: Tuesday, 24 January 2006 8:03 AM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] IV Synto for 3rd stage at the hospital i work in the paediatrician/neonatologist inisit on all newborns have a rectal temp done for the first temp. i have been told when questioning this from the clinical learning co-ordinator that there once was a baby who had a imperferated anus and this was not picked up until too late and the baby became very sick so it is protocol. also i was told that there is a difference in temperature as when i looked this subject up for my own interest if you take a temp axilla there is also many other factors which come into play such as the air temp and if the thermometer is accurately placed. the references i cant remember but the evidence suggested that for a accurate reading we should be taking temperatures rectally for infants and orally for adults not axilla and certainly not be the fold at the back of the newborns neck. regards - Original Message - From: brendamanning [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 12:11 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] IV Synto for 3rd stage How amazing, rectal temps are so archaic ! I thought they went out with PR exams to assess dilation. Poor you ! Keep questioning, that's how change happenseventually. With kind regards Brenda Manning www.themidwife.com.au - Original Message - From: Kylie Holden [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Monday, January 23, 2006 11:42 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] IV Synto for 3rd stage All debates regarding active v. physiological third stage aside, I was referring to women who have had a jelco put in for whatever reason (IV antibiotics in labour, epidurals, etc). I completely agree with you Brenda, that the number of women who didn't get their required dose of synto and who go on and have a (semi) physiological third stage are evidence in favour of safe, normal 3rd stage. Unfortuately this particular hospital doesn't take too kindly to students coming in and questioning their protocols! We learnt that the hard way when we (as students) tried not to take babies first temps rectally...a protocol was soon put in place that this MUST occur! Kylie From: brendamanning [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] IV Synto for 3rd stage Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 15:18:48 +1100 Kylie, We are presuming these are all high risk women you are dealing with as otherwise there would be no need for her to have a jelco in place ? I am including women who have epidurals in this category as this automatically makes them high risk once they've deviated from the 'body driven' course of labour. Otherwise... Why would a low risk woman : a. have a jelco in situ during labour ? b. need an oxytocic ? So assuming she is high risk you need to be very sure she gets the oxytocic, she really needs it as her body has had its input overridden
