Top 4 Considerations When Choosing an Absorbent Mat for Your Hospital

Absorbent mats are vital for effective fluid management in hospitals. They can absorb and contain significant quantities of fluids during procedures, which can help prevent slips, trips, and falls. Plus, after procedures you can simply dispose of the mat in the appropriate waste stream. This can help prevent cross infection while making cleaning much easier, so you can significantly reduce your turnaround time between procedures.

But not all absorbent mats are quite the same. It’s important that you pick one that’s suitable for your needs. In this post, we’ll explore four key considerations for choosing the right absorbent mats for your hospital.

If you’d like to discuss your fluid management needs, our friendly experts are always on hand to help. Give us a call on 0333 015 4345 or email info@cairntechnology.com

What Level of Absorbency Do You Need?

Different mats offer different levels of absorbency. The level of absorbency you need will largely depend on the sort of procedures you’ll be carrying out. A procedure such as a  shoulder arthroscopy for example, will produce a lot of fluid, so you’ll need a mat with a high level of absorbency.

The level of absorbency you’ll need will also depend on where you intend to place the mat. If you want a mat to place on the operating theatre floor during wet procedures, it will need to be as absorbent as possible. But if you want to use a mat on a scrub room floor, then the level of absorbency will not need to be as high.

The Nature of the Procedure

Beyond your fluid management needs, think about your practical requirements during a procedure. For instance, do you just need a mat to capture fluids or will you also need to walk on it, or place a stool on it?

Or does the mat need to be placed next to the patient and therefore be sterile? Some absorbent mats are specifically designed for use in sterile environments.

Anti-Skid Absorbent Mats

If you’ll need to walk on the mat, or place a stool on it, then you’ll need your mat to be reliably anti-skid.

Look for mats with effective anti-skid backing. You could also consider a combination mat, which combines an anti-skid walkable section with a highly absorbent section, making it perfect for use in general and orthopaedic theatres. It’s a simple, single solution that gives you the best of both worlds.

How Disposable Medical Equipment Fit Into Your Environmental Policy?

Your hospital’s environmental policy might set strict guidelines about the use of disposable medical equipment, and the amount of waste you produce. The good news is that absorbent mats can play an active role in helping your hospital reduce its carbon footprint.

Go for a highly absorbent mat, for instance, and you can absorb up to 8.5 litres of water and 3.5 litres of saline with a single mat.

Or choose an absorbent mat in roll form and you can measure and cut accordingly, so that you only ever use as much or as little of the mat as you need.

We Can Help You Choose The Right Absorbent Mat For Your Needs

At Cairn Technology, we stock a full range of state-of-the-art absorbent mats for efficient and effective fluid management in hospitals.

If you’re not sure which mat is right for you, we’ll be happy to help. Get in touch, tell us about your fluid management requirements, and we can advise you on the best solution for your hospital.

Give us a call on 0333 015 4345 or email info@cairntechnology.com