PRINTER'S NO. 1417
No. 176 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY MELLOW, PIPPY, BOSCOLA, FONTANA, TARTAGLIONE,
STOUT, C. WILLIAMS, COSTA, TOMLINSON, KASUNIC, MUSTO,
RAFFERTY, WOZNIAK, EARLL, STACK, LAVALLE, KITCHEN, DINNIMAN,
HUGHES, McILHINNEY, ERICKSON, GREENLEAF, PILEGGI, ORIE,
ARMSTRONG, FUMO, O'PAKE AND WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 25, 2007
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, SEPTEMBER 25, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the week of September 30 through October 6, 2007, as
2 "Latex Allergy Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, In 1997, after receiving more than 1,700 reports of
4 latex allergy reactions, including 16 deaths associated with the
5 natural rubber latex cuffs on the tip of barium enema catheters,
6 which have since been recalled, the United States Food and Drug
7 Administration ordered that any medical device containing
8 natural rubber latex carry a cautionary label about potential
9 allergic reactions; and
10 WHEREAS, The National Institute of Occupational Safety and
11 Health issued an alert in June 1997 requesting assistance in
12 preventing allergic reactions to natural rubber latex among
13 workers who use gloves and other products containing natural
14 rubber latex; and
15 WHEREAS, The Food and Drug Administration issued final rules
16 that went into effect September 30, 1998, requiring labeling
1 statements concerning the presence of natural rubber latex in
2 medical devices, including device packaging containing natural
3 rubber that contacts humans; and
4 WHEREAS, As of March 1999 the total number of latex allergy
5 reactions associated with latex-containing medical gloves
6 reported to the Food and Drug Administration was 2,330,
7 including five deaths; and
8 WHEREAS, Latex gloves have been used in the health care
9 industry by health care workers to prevent the transmission of
10 many infectious diseases; and
11 WHEREAS, Natural rubber latex is used to manufacture some
12 emergency equipment, personal protective equipment, medical and
13 hospital equipment and household and office supplies; and
14 WHEREAS, Latex gloves are used in other industries, such as
15 child care, food service, food processing and automobile repair;
16 and
17 WHEREAS, The Food and Drug Administration issued a cautionary
18 statement in the 1999 Food Code Annex that natural rubber latex
19 gloves have been reported to cause allergic reactions in some
20 individuals who wear latex gloves during food preparation and
21 also in individuals eating food prepared by food employees
22 wearing latex gloves; and
23 WHEREAS, With its growing use, there is more awareness that
24 latex and latex-containing products may trigger an allergic
25 reaction; and
26 WHEREAS, Latex allergy is due to numerous allergen proteins
27 derived from natural rubber latex; and
28 WHEREAS, The number of health care workers and others
29 affected will continue to increase because frequent exposure to
30 latex causes the development of the allergy; and
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1 WHEREAS, Children with spina bifida, those who have medical
2 conditions involving multiple surgical and invasive procedures
3 and individuals prone to allergies are at a greater risk for
4 allergic reactions to latex; and
5 WHEREAS, Researchers estimate 1% to 6% of the general
6 population, or up to 18 million Americans, are affected by latex
7 allergy, including 40% to 65% of children born with spina
8 bifida; and
9 WHEREAS, Various support groups across the country have come
10 together to increase public awareness of latex allergies and
11 encourage the endorsement of such efforts across the nation; and
12 WHEREAS, The need to protect the residents of Pennsylvania,
13 including patients and health care workers, against latex
14 allergies is a public health issue, and awareness of the public
15 health threat through education is the key to prevention of
16 latex allergic reactions; therefore be it
17 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of September 30
18 through October 6, 2007, as "Latex Allergy Awareness Week" in an
19 effort to urge all Pennsylvanians to become educated about latex
20 allergies.
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