PRINTER'S NO. 682
No. 43 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY MELLOW, HUGHES, BODACK, O'PAKE, TOMLINSON, TARTAGLIONE, CONTI, KASUNIC, SALVATORE, SCHWARTZ, BELAN, WAGNER, COSTA, KUKOVICH AND GERLACH, MARCH 22, 1999
REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, MARCH 22, 1999
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1 Urging the Governor to establish a committee to study the 2 adverse effects of latex and latex-containing products. 3 WHEREAS, In 1997, after receiving over 1,700 reports of latex 4 allergy reactions, including 16 deaths, the United States Food 5 and Drug Administration ordered that any medical device 6 containing latex carry a warning about potential allergic 7 reactions; and 8 WHEREAS, The National Institute of Occupational Safety and 9 Health issued an alert in June 1997 requesting assistance in 10 preventing allergic reactions to natural rubber latex among 11 workers who use gloves and other products containing latex; and 12 WHEREAS, Latex gloves have been used as a tool in the health 13 care industry by health care workers to prevent the transmission 14 of many infectious diseases; and 15 WHEREAS, Latex is used in emergency equipment, personal 16 protective equipment, office supplies and hospital and household 17 supplies; and
1 WHEREAS, Latex is also used in other industries, such as 2 child care, food service and food processing; and 3 WHEREAS, With its growing use, there is more awareness that 4 latex and latex-containing products may trigger an allergic 5 reaction; and 6 WHEREAS, Allergic reaction to latex comes in three types: 7 irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis and 8 latex allergy; and 9 WHEREAS, Reactions to latex may include skin rashes, hives, 10 itching, swollen red skin, swollen lips and tongue, shortness of 11 breath, dizziness, fainting, eye or sinus symptoms, asthma and, 12 on rare occasions, shock; and 13 WHEREAS, Children with spina bifida and other conditions 14 involving multiple surgical procedures are at a greater risk to 15 an allergic reaction to latex due to the need for multiple 16 surgeries; and 17 WHEREAS, It is estimated that approximately 22,000 18 Pennsylvanians are currently at risk for developing this 19 allergy, including 40% to 65% of children with spina bifida; and 20 WHEREAS, The need to protect the residents of Pennsylvania 21 against latex allergies is a public health issue and should be 22 addressed in order to create a public policy on education and 23 prevention of latex allergic reactions; therefore be it 24 RESOLVED, (the House of Representatives concurring), That the 25 General Assembly urge the Governor, Thomas J. Ridge, to 26 establish a committee to study the adverse effects of latex and 27 latex-containing products and make a report that provides 28 recommendations on the education of the public on latex 29 allergies and reduction of allergy-causing protein, known as 30 antigens; and be it further 19990S0043R0682 - 2 -
1 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly urge the Governor to 2 appoint members of this committee that include the Secretary of 3 Health, an allergist, a representative from occupational health, 4 an epidemiologist, an anesthesiologist, an internist, a surgical 5 specialist, a hospital administrator, a pediatrician, a nurse, a 6 dentist, an osteopathic physician, a latex-allergic health care 7 provider and a representative from the Pennsylvania Emergency 8 Health Services Council; and be it further 9 RESOLVED, That the recommendations from this committee be 10 submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly for the 11 purpose of adopting a Statewide policy and program to help 12 educate health care workers and the general public on latex 13 allergies; and be it further 14 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to 15 Governor Thomas J. Ridge. L11L82SFL/19990S0043R0682 - 3 -