Hospitals employ curtains to serve a variety of purposes. They can help maximize the space in wards by segregating beds offer privacy for patients and aid in reducing the risk of infection. Curtains are among the most frequented surfaces in hospitals. This means they are the home of various bacteria.
Hospitals employ various kinds of curtains. They all have their own advantages and disadvantages. The curtains are connected to cubicle tracks that are basically huge track that bends around beds.
Fabric curtains
Traditionally, curtain curtains made of fabric were commonly used in the wards of hospitals. The problem with curtains made of fabric is that they can’t be cleaned clean, which means that bacteria develop. The fabric is easily stained by bodily fluids and the curtains are damaged by everyday wear and tear.
Hospitals invest a lot of time and money washing the curtains on a regular basis to ensure they’re in good condition. Cleaning just one hospital’s curtain produces a lot of carbon dioxide emissions annually which is why you should consider how this activity affects the earth globally.
Curtains for disposal
In recent times disposable curtains have become widely used in hospitals all over the world, while fabric curtains are being eliminated. Disposable curtains are curtains that can be used only once that means they aren’t cleaned. Instead they are removed after they’ve been used to their peak. A good manufacturer will put an audit-ready label on the curtains they throw away and hospital staff will utilize to track the last time curtains were replaced and the date they will be replaced the next time.
Disposable curtains were extensively utilized during the pandemic to stop its spread. virus. Disposable curtains have proven to be extremely efficient in preventing infections that are acquired in hospitals and are particularly suited for the acute hospitals where curtains need to be regularly changed and replaced quickly. Hospitals used up hundreds of curtains that were thrown away during the outbreak, resulting in large disposal costs. According to the manufacturer, certain curtains that are disposable can be recycled, however, others aren’t.
Reusable curtains
A different option available to hospitals are reused curtains that are generally made of PVC. They aren’t absorbed which means they won’t stain and are easily cleaned by using detergent. This can save hospital personnel much time since the curtains don’t require removal and cleaned or replaced with new ones.
Curtains that are reused can last for many years if purchased from a reliable manufacturer, which is why they’re more affordable than disposable curtains and , in some ways, more sustainable to the planet. However, some medical professionals believe that reusable curtains aren’t as effective in preventing spread of infections in comparison to disposable curtains.
Summary
Disposable and reused curtains provide an even higher degree of protection against infection than curtains made of fabric. As the climate crisis becomes increasingly urgent, hospitals need to be aware of the environmental impacts of various curtains. Some curtain manufacturers produce curtains that are 100percent recyclable, whereas others generate huge waste of plastic.
