COLUMBUS, OH (Vocus) April 10, 2010
Youve heard of the Safety Dance but what about the Safe Handling Dance? In recognition of National Safe Handling Awareness Month (April), Carmel Pharma, Inc. and the oncology healthcare staff at Novant Health Systems Presbyterian Cancer Center in Charlotte, NC, have teamed up to create the “Safe Handling Dance video to further education surrounding the proper handling of hazardous drugs, such as chemotherapy.
Fun and informative, the video is intended to show how the team of professionals at the Presbyterian Cancer Center approached implementation of a multi-disciplinary safe handling awareness program with an upbeat, can-do attitude. To help promote widespread awareness of safe handling best practices, Carmel Pharma is proud make a charitable donation to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Foundation and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Foundation if the YouTube video reaches 100,000 views by July 4, 2010.
To view the video and help support future safe handling education, please visit http://www.step2safety.wordpress.com or Carmel Pharmas YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/carmelpharmausa.
The Importance of Safe Handling
In 2004, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released an alert stating that working with or near hazardous drugs in healthcare settings may cause skin rashes, infertility, miscarriage, birth defects and possibly leukemia or other cancers. Further evidence to support the need to take action in this area may be found below:
The World Health Organization predicts a 50 percent increase of cancer cases over the next 20 years; this, combined with more potent chemotherapy drugs as well as an increase in the use of hazardous drugs to treat non-malignant illnesses will continue to elevate risk of exposure.
Two separate studies investigating the toxicity in healthcare personnel who handle cytotoxic (hazardous) drugs revealed a 40-50 percent increased risk for miscarriage. A total of 7094 pregnancies of 2976 pharmacy and nursing staff were examined.
A national survey conducted by the Environmental Working Group, the American Nurses Association, Health Care Without Harm and the Environmental Health Education Center at the University of Maryland School of Nursing showed that there are links between nurses occupational exposure to hazardous drugs and the health problems they develop such as cancer, asthma, miscarriages and childrens birth defects.
About Safe Handling Awareness Month
Now in its second year, National Safe Handling Awareness Month (April) was petitioned to raise awareness of the occupational risks associated with handling hazardous drugs and educate healthcare providers on the U.S. guidelines and safety measures that may be taken to prevent hazardous drug exposure. As the highlight of National Safe Handling Awareness Month, National Safe Handling Awareness Day (April 20) brings together national and regional educational opportunities collectively aimed at preserving the health and wellbeing of the oncology healthcare professionals who devote their lives to helping others. National Safe Handling Awareness Month and Day are officially endorsed by the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners (ISOPP) and are officially sponsored by Carmel Pharma, the maker of the PhaSeal
Now Live! The Safe Handling Dance Video to Benefit ASHP/ONS Foundations
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