[nabs-l] Sanitizing canes for use in hospitals

[Jamie Principato]

One thing you could do is make a sanitary sheath for your cane out of the same material as the scrubs and head/shoe coverings you already use in sterile environments. It would be like a cloth tube that you slide your cane into tip first and tie off at the top of the handle with a drawstring. You'll need to wash it and store it somewhere clean like you would your scrubs, but it would be more convenient than washing the entire cane by hand. You might also consider keeping a clean tip that you only ever use in sterile environments and swapping out tips before washing your hands. 

-Jamie

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 13, 2015, at 6:08 PM, Kaiti Shelton via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I'm hoping to work in a hospital for my job, and recently was there to
> visit an ill relative.  It occured to me while I was putting on gloves
> and a gown that in some situations I will need to clean my cane as
> well.  Music therapists do work in isolated areas on occasion, and
> also may work in preop or postop.  In this case, I was visiting
> someone who had an infection that could be contageous.  The idea of
> washing my hands and scrubbing up, but not sanitizing my cane, then
> washing up afterwards and touching the cane again kind of grossed me
> out.  Not only could it track in germs from the outside to the sick
> person in the room, but it also could transfer anything the person has
> back to me.
> 
> I already do sanitize my cane because I work a lot with kids and/or
> elderly people, but in this situation Lysol wipes won't always be
> sufficient.  Has anyone had experience with this?  I'm just asking
> around and will try the human services division as well.  I've also
> asked an Orientation and Mobility Speciailist if he's ever seen this
> done.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> -- 
> Kaiti Shelton
> University of Dayton-Music Therapy
> President, Ohio Association of Blind Students 2013-Present
> Secretary, The National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts
> Division 2015-2016
> 
> "You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back!"
> 
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