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91_SR0273
LRB9112737CBcb
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The United States Food and Drug Administration
3 has ordered that any medical device containing latex carry a
4 warning about potential allergic reactions; and
5 WHEREAS, The National Institute of Occupational Safety
6 and Health issued an alert requesting assistance in
7 preventing allergic reactions to natural rubber latex among
8 workers who use gloves and other products containing latex;
9 and
10 WHEREAS, The Food and Drug Administration issued final
11 rules that went into effect September 30, 1998, requiring
12 labeling statements concerning the presence of natural rubber
13 latex in medical devices; and
14 WHEREAS, Latex gloves have been used as a tool in the
15 health care industry by health care workers to prevent the
16 transmission of many infectious diseases; latex is used in
17 emergency equipment, personal protective equipment, office
18 supplies, and hospital and household supplies; and
19 WHEREAS, Latex is also used in other industries, such as
20 child care, food service, and food processing; and
21 WHEREAS, With its growing use, there is more awareness
22 that latex and latex-containing products may trigger an
23 allergic reaction; allergic reaction to latex comes in three
24 types: irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact
25 dermatitis, and latex allergy; and
26 WHEREAS, Reactions to latex may include skin rashes,
27 hives, itching, swollen red skin, swollen lips and tongue,
28 shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, eye or synus
29 symptoms, asthma, rapid heart rate, and, on rare occasions,
30 shock; and
-2- LRB9112737CBcb
1 WHEREAS, The most severe cases can result in severe blood
2 pressure drop and loss of consciousness; and
3 WHEREAS, Latex allergy develops most commonly in people
4 who have frequent or intimate exposure to it; at high risk
5 are those who have had frequent surgical procedures,
6 particularly in infancy, and workers with occupational
7 exposure; and
8 WHEREAS, The number of health care workers and others
9 affected will continue to increase because frequent exposure
10 to latex causes the development of the allergy; and
11 WHEREAS, The need to protect the residents, including
12 health care workers, against latex allergies is a public
13 health issue and awareness of the public health threat
14 through education is the key to prevention of latex allergic
15 reactions; therefore, be it
16 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIRST GENERAL
17 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the United
18 States Congress to proclaim the week of October 1 through 7,
19 2000 as "Latex Allergy Awareness Week" in an effort to urge
20 all citizens to become educated about latex allergies; and be
21 it further
22 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
23 forwarded to the President pro tempore of the United States
24 Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of
25 Representatives, and to each member of the Illinois
26 congressional delegation.