Dos of using a hospital steam sterilizer
- Read the manufacturer’s instructions: Before using a hospital steam sterilizer, it is important to read and understand the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure that you follow the instructions carefully to ensure that the machine is used correctly and safely.
- Wear protective clothing: When using a hospital steam sterilizer, it is important to wear protective clothing, including gloves, a gown, and eye protection. This will help to protect you from burns and other injuries that could occur when handling hot equipment.
- Prepare the equipment correctly: Before placing hospital equipment or waste in the steam sterilizer, it is important to clean it thoroughly and remove any debris or organic matter. Make sure that you follow the correct cleaning procedures to ensure that the equipment is properly prepared for sterilization.
- Load the equipment correctly: When loading equipment into the sterilizer, make sure that it is placed in the correct position to ensure that it is properly sterilized. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for guidance on how to load the equipment correctly.
- Monitor the cycle: While the hospital steam sterilizer is running, it is important to monitor the cycle to ensure that it is operating correctly. Check the pressure and temperature gauges regularly to make sure that they are within the correct range.
- Allow for cooling time: Once the sterilization cycle is complete, it is important to allow the equipment to cool before removing it from the hospital steam sterilizer. This will help to prevent burns and other injuries that could occur when handling hot equipment.
Don’ts of using a hospital steam sterilizer
- Overload the sterilizer: Overloading the hospital steam sterilizer can cause the equipment to be improperly sterilized, as the steam may not be able to penetrate all areas of the equipment. Make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the maximum load capacity of the sterilizer.
- Use dirty or damaged equipment: It is important to only use clean and undamaged equipment in the steam sterilizer. Dirty or damaged equipment may not be properly sterilized, which could lead to infections in patients.
- Open the sterilizer too soon: It is important to allow the hospital steam sterilizer to complete its cycle before opening it. Opening the sterilizer too soon can cause the steam to escape, which could result in burns or other injuries. Thankfully, models like Celitron’s hospital steam sterilizers are much more user-friendly thanks to a completely automated operation and extra safety features that can prevent these kinds of unwanted incidents.
- Use the wrong type of water: Only use distilled water in the steam sterilizer. Using tap water or any other type of water could damage the machine and cause it to malfunction.
- Use the sterilizer for non-medical equipment: A hospital steam sterilizer is designed specifically for medical equipment and should not be used for non-medical items. Using the sterilizer with non-compatible items like expired pharmaceuticals or radioactive medical waste is a no-go! Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions to see what materials can or cannot be treated with the model you chose.
