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91_SR0273enr 91SR0273 Enrolled LRB9112737CBcb 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 2 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY 3 SENATE 4 Senate Resolution No. 273 5 Offered by Senator Dan Cronin 6 WHEREAS, The United States Food and Drug Administration 7 has ordered that any medical device containing latex carry a 8 warning about potential allergic reactions; and 9 WHEREAS, The National Institute of Occupational Safety 10 and Health issued an alert requesting assistance in 11 preventing allergic reactions to natural rubber latex among 12 workers who use gloves and other products containing latex; 13 and 14 WHEREAS, The Food and Drug Administration issued final 15 rules that went into effect September 30, 1998, requiring 16 labeling statements concerning the presence of natural rubber 17 latex in medical devices; and 18 WHEREAS, Latex gloves have been used as a tool in the 19 health care industry by health care workers to prevent the 20 transmission of many infectious diseases; latex is used in 21 emergency equipment, personal protective equipment, office 22 supplies, and hospital and household supplies; and 23 WHEREAS, Latex is also used in other industries, such as 24 child care, food service, and food processing; and 25 WHEREAS, With its growing use, there is more awareness 26 that latex and latex-containing products may trigger an 27 allergic reaction; allergic reaction to latex products occur 28 as two types: allergic contact dermatitis to chemicals that 29 are added to latex during manufacturing, and latex allergy to 30 proteins and natural rubber latex; and 91SR0273 Enrolled -2- LRB9112737CBcb 1 WHEREAS, Reactions to latex may include skin rashes, 2 hives, itching, swollen red skin, swollen lips and tongue, 3 shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, eye or sinus 4 symptoms, asthma, rapid heart rate, and, on rare occasions, 5 shock; and 6 WHEREAS, The most severe cases can result in severe blood 7 pressure drop and loss of consciousness; and 8 WHEREAS, Health care workers, patients, and others 9 affected will benefit from health care providers actively 10 establishing clinically sound protocols and management 11 strategies to alert and educate health care workers and 12 patients to the implications and risks of latex allergies; 13 and 14 WHEREAS, Latex allergy may develop in people who have 15 frequent or intimate exposure to it, which may include 16 occupational exposure; at high risk are those who have had 17 frequent surgical procedures, particularly in infancy, and 18 those who are atopic; and 19 WHEREAS, The individuals who are latex allergic should 20 avoid natural rubber latex products, as exposure to even 21 trace amounts could cause an allergic reaction in some 22 individuals; and 23 WHEREAS, The need to protect the residents, including 24 health care workers, against latex allergies is a public 25 health issue and awareness of the public health threat 26 through education is the key to prevention of latex allergic 27 reactions; therefore, be it 28 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIRST GENERAL 29 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the United 30 States Congress to proclaim the week of October 1 through 7, 91SR0273 Enrolled -3- LRB9112737CBcb 1 2000, as "Latex Allergy Awareness Week" in an effort to urge 2 all citizens to become educated about latex allergies; and be 3 it further 4 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 5 forwarded to the President pro tempore of the United States 6 Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of 7 Representatives, and to each member of the Illinois 8 congressional delegation. 9 Adopted by the Senate, April 15, 2000. 10 _______________________ 11 President of the Senate 12 _______________________ 13 Secretary of the Senate