Safety

The FDA proposes new medical gas precautions

Hospital Safety Connection, April 18, 2006

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a revised regulation that it says will lessen the chances of medical gas mixups in hospitals.

The proposal would mandate that medical gas manufacturers and distributors

  • install gas outlet connections that someone can't easily remove
  • place identifying labels that wrap all the way around the tops of cylinders
  • paint high-pressure medical gas cylinders using a standard color-coding system as outlined by the FDA
  • not reuse medical gas containers converted from industrial uses

From 1996 to 2006, the FDA received reports of medical gas mixups that resulted in at least eight patient deaths and 18 serious injuries.

You can comment on the proposal until July 10 by clicking here.



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