Category: COVID-19

Washing your hands has always been super important in healthcare facilities in order to prevent Hospital Acquired Illnesses (HAIs) or healthcare-associated infections which affect about 1 in every 31 patients. With the outbreak of COVID-19, it’s even more important for healthcare professionals, and all of us to practice good hand hygiene.

What is good hand hygiene?

Having good hand hygiene means keeping your hands clean as much as possible. The best way to practice proper hand hygiene is to wash your hands with soap and water, or to use hand sanitizer whenever your hands may have come into contact with a dirty surface. Dirty surface doesn’t just mean visibly dirty, as many surfaces that appear to be clean could actually be covered in germs and bacteria. If you’re not sure whether you need to clean your hands, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and wash up!

Soap and water or hand sanitizer?

The best ways to clean your hands is by washing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer. While hand sanitizer removes most germs, it does not remove all germs from your hands, and studies show that soap and water are more effective at removing certain types of germs. This is why the CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and water whenever possible, and using hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

When to Wash your Hands

Here are some of the times when the CDC recommends that you wash your hands with soap and water.

• Before, after, or during any food preparation
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the bathroom
• After changing diapers or cleaning up for a child who has used the bathroom
• After touching an animal or animal waste
• After handling pet treats or food
• After touching a garbage
• Anytime that your hands are visibly dirty or greasy

When to Use Hand Sanitizer

Here are a couple of instances in which the CDC believes hand sanitizer will work to remove germs and bacteria.

• Before and after visiting someone who is in a hospital or healthcare facility
• If soap and water are not readily available

Proper Hand Washing

We’ve all been taught the importance of regular hand washing from a young age, but do you know how to correctly wash your hands? According to the CDC, there are a few steps for the proper hand washing technique.

1. Wet your hands with warm water
2. Apply the amount of soap that the manufacturer recommends
3. Rub your hands together vigorously for at least 15 seconds, making sure cover all parts of your hands with soap
4. Rinse your hands with more water
5. Lastly, dry your hands with a paper towel or air dryer, and turn off the faucet with the towel to avoid any lingering germs.

Proper Hand Sanitizing

It seems like it’s obvious how to use hand sanitizer, but not everyone sanitizes their hands correctly.  Here are the steps for correctly sanitizing your hands.

1. First, you should make sure that you are using a hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol in order for it to be effective
2. Put the amount of product that the manufacturer recommends on your hands and start to rub them together
3. Continue rubbing your hands together for about 20 seconds until your hands are completely covered and dry
4. Once your hands are dry, they will be sterile and you should be ready to move on to your next task

In March, the world was in the beginning phases of facing a pandemic of unknown proportions and here in the U.S., preparations were underway. Fears of shortages in the healthcare supply chain drove companies to evaluate their manufacturing capacities to identify ways in which they could leverage their facilities to prepare our nation for the first wave of the virus. Some companies started using 3D printers to print face shields, some used their resources to manufacture high-demand ventilators and companies in the healthcare business increased their operating hours to maximum capacity.

As a company already in the healthcare industry, Lakeside responded immediately to COVID-19 by increasing production on high demand items such as utility carts, handwashing stations and shelving units. Additionally, engineers at Lakeside came together to brainstorm new ways to service the healthcare industry by leveraging manufacturing facilities and raw materials on site. After hours of bouncing ideas back and forth, Lakeside engineers created a blueprint to begin the production of IV poles.

Just days later, Lakeside’s Milwaukee manufacturing facility produced and delivered its first IV stand, followed by many variations of IV poles and IV bag stands. As of the date of this publication, Lakeside proudly manufactures 15 variations of IV poles and 6 IV pole accessories, all built right here in the USA.

Lakeside IV poles were designed specifically to be easy to use and easy to sanitize. Chrome plated or stainless steel tubing provides cleaning staff a round surface to disinfect, and no corners for dirt and grime to collect in. Further, Lakeside applied their easy-rolling casters to the IV stands to allow hospitals to effortlessly maneuver the stands throughout their facility, wherever needed. Some highlights for specific IV pole models include:

• Rapid Response IV Stands (SKUs 158331, 158371, 158495, 158496). They are all-stainless steel IV poles with a sturdy 20” diameter solid base that provides upright stability. The stainless steel medical pole has a 1 ¾” diameter that adjusts effortlessly to accommodate heights from 50” up to 90”. The product rolls easily on 5 swivel casters making it reliable for fast-paced hospital environments.
• Heavy Duty IV Stands (SKUs 4850, 4855). They are all-stainless steel IV poles with an easy twist knob that adjusts the pole height from 51 ¾” to 93 ½”. The heavy duty IV stands feature 4 easy-roll casters on an epoxy coated steel base, with rubber bumpers to protect walls and furnishings.
• The Space Saving IV Stands (SKUs 4865, 4866). They are all-stainless steel IV stands with an easy twist know that adjusts the pole to cover a height range from 54” to 90 ½”. The space saving IV pole is built with a 16” base made from epoxy coated steel. This allows this medical pole to maneuver through tight spaces and fit into tight nooks for more compact hospital environments.

With many uncertainties still remaining regarding COVID-19, Lakeside continues its commitment to the healthcare industry by maintaining its promises to produce invaluable carts and now, IV stands to hospitals and healthcare organizations. Our Milwaukee manufacturing plant continues to operate, just as our engineers continue to brainstorm to do our part to combat COVID-19, together.

The world was shocked by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.  We have all been affected in one way or another by the virus.  The global economy has been shook to it's core with increased travel restrictions, strict lock down measures, falling oil prices, and much more.  Within the United States, the pandemic has also exposed some underlying issues with our healthcare supply chain. Specifically, the healthcare system’s dependence on China and other foreign countries for the supply of essential equipment.

The media has extensively covered the shortage of PPE in the United States, but this was only the tip of the iceberg. America has experienced shortages of many medical devices and equipment due to decreased imports and increased demand for these essential products.   Supply was not able to keep up with the increased demand, largely in part, due to the amount of medical supplies manufactured in China. China was the first region struck with the pandemic and the country’s own need for these products also skyrocketed.  Suddenly, the US’s primary source of essential medical equipment was reducing supply in the moments where we needed it most.  It quickly became clear that our nation was not fully prepared for such an event.  Domestic manufacturers scrambled to pitch in and adapt to support the demands of hospitals.  Certainly COVID-19 has highlighted the shortcomings of the current healthcare supply chain in the United States.

There is no easy solution for the US’ dependence on foreign countries for medical devices, but from this adversity a movement to source domestically is growing.  Manufacturers across the nation are pushing for increased domestic sourcing in hopes of preventing future shortages of healthcare equipment in the event of a another global shock. An increase in domestic manufacturing of these essential products would significantly decrease our nation's vulnerability.  Just as our manufacturers are learning from COVID-19, our government has also taken note and introduced a bipartisan bill that would analyze the dependence of the US on critical drugs and medical devices manufactured outside of the country.

A specific example of a vital medical equipment in low supply due to the pandemic includes IV poles and IV stands. These small, yet critical devices are used to administer medicines and treatments to patients via intravenous therapy.  Countless hospitals rely on IV poles to care for patients and shortages result in stress on both healthcare facilities and patients in need of care. In response to the shortage of IV poles in the US, Lakeside Manufacturing ramped up production of the essential product in order to help meet the increased demand. Lakeside, like many other manufacturers, make all products in the US.  Domestic sourcing and manufacturing has countless advantages even when we’re not in the midst of a global health crisis.