What Should You Know About Using a Humidifier

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Image by Orca – https://pixabay.com/en/users/Orca-81489/

Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. While you can’t control the humidity outside, you can control it inside your home with a device called a humidifier.

Humidity levels in your house should be between 30 and 50 percent. Too much dry air can contribute to problems with both your health and your home. Not enough humidity in the air can cause dry skin and respiratory issues. But did you know it can also damage your furniture?

First off, let’s clear the air about what a humidifier is and is not.

Humidifier defined
A humidifier is a device that adds moisture to the air in a room. Especially in the winter, humidifiers can help prevent airborne viruses like the cold or the flu. But beware. Overuse of a humidifier can worsen respiratory issues. It also puts your home at a higher risk for developing mold.

Benefits
When used properly, a humidifier in your home can be beneficial to your health.

Vibrant skin
Dry air and dry skin go hand-in-hand. A humidifier can help you lock in your skin’s natural moisture. You’ll be protected against dry and flaking skin, making you look young and healthy.

Protect and maintain the home
Wood furnishings do better when the humidity is higher. They are less likely to crack and will remain solid for years to come.

If you have a green thumb, your houseplants will thank you for using a humidifier. In dry climates or in the winter, a plant’s soil can dry out more quickly. Keeping the air moist will help keep your plants happy and healthy.

Improve sleep
Keeping the air in your bedroom moist at night can improve sleep. The moist environment can make you feel comfortable and warm, allowing for a good night’s rest.

Relieve congestion and reduce risk of infection
Viruses and bacteria don’t travel well in high humidity. A room or home with an appropriate level of humidity has a reduced risk of spreading airborne illness.

Should you get congested, a humidifier will keep your sinuses dry and help keep you comfortable. Humidifiers also benefit your vocal cords. You won’t snore as much at night and won’t wake up in the morning with a growling voice.

Precautions
It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to keep a humidifier clean. Bacteria and mold can build up, making a humidifier more harm than good. Use distilled water and be sure to clean out the humidifier once a week.

Getting burned by a humidifier is a common risk of using one. It is crucial to keep small children away from humidifiers.

Which type should I buy?
Depending on your needs, there are many types and brands of humidifiers on the market. Some options available are cordless, travel, as well as systems for your entire home.

As far as home remedies go, a humidifier is worth the investment.

Three Reasons to Install a Safety Grab Bar

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Image by geralt – https://pixabay.com/en/users/geralt-9301/

If you have aging loved ones, or are currently caring for your elderly relative, you know how important it is to make sure their living space is set up in a way that is safe. One easy way to do that is to install safety grab bars. Let’s take a quick look at three reasons to install a safety grab bar in your home, or in the home of an aging loved one.

Stability

Falls are one of the top reasons that the elderly visit the emergency room. Often times, these falls occur in the bathtub or shower, or near the toilet. By installing a safety grab bar in and near these areas, you can offer stability to your loved ones. If you place the safety grab bar near the toilet or bath tub, it can steady them as they sit and aid them in standing. When secured properly, they can be a great help to your aging loved ones in the bathroom.

Security

If you have ever been through a time when you felt unsteady, or nervous about your ability to complete a task, you can empathize with your aging loved ones. Living with chronic fear that they might fall can actually cause physical symptoms in older adults. They can experience a weakened immune system, cardiovascular damage, ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome. Long-term chronic fear can lead to depression, fatigue, or accelerated aging. You definitely don’t want any of these health issues plaguing your loved one, especially when they are already nervous and anxious about a certain task that may be as simple as taking a shower. Give your loved one the security they need by installing a safety grab bar.

Self-Reliance

A safety grab bar can also offer your elderly loved one independence. As we age, it’s often disheartening to realize we need assistance to do tasks we once could do well on our own. Rather than having to ask for help getting in and out of the bathtub or shower, your loved one can use a safety grab bar and maintain his or her independence. Loss of independence can cause a number of negative emotions, and sometimes these can even lead to depression. Depression has negative effects on heart health, diabetes, and has been linked to a higher mortality from suicide and heart disease. If a simple thing like a safety grab bar can offer independence to your aging loved one, it’s an easy step you can take to help them.

Installing a safety grab bar is easy to do and can have a huge impact on your aging loved one’s health and well-being.

Four Reasons You May Need Compression Garments

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Image by paradox6 – https://pixabay.com/en/users/paradox6-3567937/

What are compression garments? You may have seen runners or athletes wear them, or your doctor may have recommended you invest in some. They are exactly what the name suggests – garments that are very tight and help to promote good blood circulation. Storing them is easy, too. To prevent snags, simply store them in Ziploc bags in your sock drawer!

There are various reasons you may need compression garments. Keep reading for four of the most common reasons.

If you have poor blood circulation

Many people with poor blood circulation benefit from compression garments. They squeeze your body to help promote blood flow, easing discomfort caused by a variety of medical issues. The most common type of compression garments for this are stockings. They come in a variety of lengths, as well as different levels of tightness.

Your doctor may recommend a tighter or looser fit based on your needs. It’s always a good idea to have a consultation before investing in compression garments.

If you have varicose veins

Varicose veins can cause more than just discomfort. They can make it difficult to feel comfortable showing any skin at all! Compression garments like stockings can make a huge difference when it comes to both pain and appearance associated with varicose veins.

By applying constant pressure to the area, the stockings help to bring down the pressure and blood content of your veins, making them smaller and less swollen. For even better results, have your compression garments measured to order. That way you know they’ll fit perfectly and give the best results.

Again, these can be expensive. Keep them in good shape by storing clean stockings in Ziploc bags and washing in a mesh bag.

If you experience swelling

If you have body parts that are prone to swelling, compression garments may be for you. So far we’ve talked about stockings, but you can also purchase compression garments for different parts of the body. Sleeves help with swelling in the knee, upper leg, or arm. You can also find compression gloves for swollen fingers or hands.

As with stockings, they promote better blood movement, helping localized swelling to dissipate.

If you are recovering from surgery

If you have just had surgery, your doctor may prescribe or recommend you wear compression garments. They are not necessary with all surgery, but they help with improved blood circulation and reducing swelling.They have the added bonus of lending support to areas that were operated on, speeding up healing time and reducing the chance of re-injury.

These four are the most common, but there are many reasons why you may need compression garments. They are easy to use and simple to store – remember the handy tip about the Ziploc bags to keep them working like new.

You can find a wide range of compression garments available at AAA Wholesale Company. Be sure to talk to your doctor beforehand about your specific needs.

Different Medical Needs, Different Medical Needles

 

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Image by qimono – https://pixabay.com/en/users/qimono-1962238/

For those who work in healthcare, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the huge variety of medical needles available. Each one has a different purpose, so it is of paramount importance that you understand how best to choose a needle for a given task.

With our wide array of medical needles, you are certain to find exactly what you need. Whether you are administering intravenous drugs or taking blood, it’s important to know not only the specific usage of your needle, but also the manufacturer’s part number. Armed with that information, you can choose the needle you need for the task at hand.

Anesthesia needles

The type of anesthesia needles you need depend entirely on the injection site. Let’s say you need to administer a spinal block or epidural. The needle used is generally long and very thin, ending in a pointed or beveled edge. An epidural needle sometimes has a curve to it.

If you are administering oral anesthesia, you will use a shorter, even thinner needle. These needles are specially made to connect to a sealed syringe full of local anesthetic. It’s important to buy the correct needles so as not to cause undue pain or anesthetize the wrong area.

Hypodermic needles

Hypodermic needles are by far the most commonly used. They are used for both injections as well as fluid withdrawals. Because there are different types of syringes, it’s important to buy the correct hypodermic needle that fits.

Hypodermics come in a wide array of lengths and gauges, so be sure to ascertain the combination you need. Typically, a larger gauge (and thus thinner) needle is used for administration of insulin or other intravenous drugs, while smaller gauge (larger) needles are used for blood donation or certain vaccine injections.

Port access needles

Port access needles are used to administer drugs or withdraw fluids from a patient’s port implant. They are usually bent at the tip and are a bit thicker than the average hypodermic needle. It’s very important to know the model number you need so you can ensure compatibility with the port. We have a variety of sizes so you can find the right one.

Insufflation needles

If you have to inflate a patient’s body cavity for surgery, you know you need an insufflation needle. These needles are very long and thick, which is necessary for their task.

As you can see, the type of procedure you are performing greatly depends on obtaining the correct needle. With AAA Wholesale Company, you are guaranteed to find the right medical needles for every need. Whether you are administering anesthesia, drawing blood for testing or giving a shot of insulin, we’ve got you covered. Always remember, you should be aware of the manufacturer’s part number to ensure your needle will fit your syringe.

All Disposable Lab Coats are Not Created Equal

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Image by PublicDomainPictures – https://pixabay.com/en/users/PublicDomainPictures-14/

When you first discover that you will be needing a disposable lab coat, you may procrastinate and think you can pick one out in a hurry, just before you need it. Unfortunately, all disposable lab coats are not created equal, and you want to do your homework before choosing one.

Know Your Need

The first step in choosing a disposable lab coat is working out what for what you will need in a disposable lab coat. For example, will you be working with chemicals or animals? Will you need a lab coat that is water resistant? How about length? Is that going to be a factor in the role in which you’ll be using your lab coat? You need to evaluate your job, or your reason for needing a disposable lab coat, and decide exactly why you need it. The most common reason for choosing a disposable lab coat is that someone is working with animals or with biological hazards.

Now that you know why you need a disposable lab coat, let’s take a look at a few different options available.

Water resistant

One of the first things you need to consider is whether or not you will need a lab coat that is water resistant. If you are working with any type of contaminant or anything that will be messy, you might want to consider a water resistant disposable lab coat. Disposable lab coats keep you from being contaminated because you can choose one that is lined with an anti-microbial layer. It will protect you from blood or hazardous wastes if that is something you require.

Pockets

Another characteristic you should consider is whether or not you need a pocket on your lab coat. If you work in an industry where you need to keep a pen or small gadgets nearby, you might want a lab coat that offers a pocket option. However, if you work with animals, a pocket might be one more thing that can get in the way.

Fire Retardant

Does your role require that you choose a lab coat that is fire retardant? If you work with chemicals or in any occupation where a flame might be used, you definitely want a disposable lab coat that is fire retardant. Any time fire and chemicals are involved, you want to make sure you take the necessary precautions.

Knit Cuffs

If you work with hazardous materials, you should purchase a lab coat that has knit cuffs. These cuffs will help keep any dangerous materials from coming up your sleeves. If you work with chemicals or biological waste, it is incredibly important that you keep your skin protected.

Closures

Another very important thing you must consider before buying a disposable lab coat is what type of closure you will want. If you work with biologics, it is required that you choose a lab coat with back or side closures. Other disposable lab coats have front closures. Determine which type works for you.

As you can see, disposable lab coats are all definitely not created equal. There are a number of different combinations of characteristics on a lab coat, and the proper one should be chosen.

Black Nitrile Gloves: Does Color Make a Difference

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Image by pagefact – https://pixabay.com/en/users/pagefact-156988/

If you google “nitrile gloves,” you will be bombarded with color options. Your first inclination might be to pick a color you like, but does glove color make a difference when choosing nitrile gloves?

Harmful substances

Police and postal workers routinely wear black nitrile gloves while working. You may not know it, but their choice is a calculated one. Black gloves allow them to recognize dangerous powders and substances immediately. When anthrax came through the mail, postal workers wearing black gloves would have seen the substance better than workers wearing lighter-colored gloves.

Easily distinguishable

Another reason to choose a black nitrile glove over another color is that it makes it easy to distinguish between your hand and the object or person you’re working on. In some fields, like cosmetology and tattoo artistry, the artist wants to be able to clearly distinguish between his or her own skin and the client’s skin. These two occupations also require close attention to detail, and the eye experiences less strain when looking at a dark color then when looking at a light one.

Show less stains

Do you think glove color makes a difference when thinking about staining? You bet it does. A tattoo artist might choose a black glove color so his client’s blood on the glove won’t be noticeable as he works – imagine the customer’s panic when she sees her own blood on a tattoo artist’s light-colored glove!  The same is true for mechanics. Mechanic work is greasy, and black gloves won’t look as dirty as another color of glove will.

Reasons not to choose blacknitrile gloves

In an environment where it is crucial that dust and other contaminants be kept out (manufacturing of pharmaceuticals for example), one would want to choose a colorless glove. Color is considered an additive, and this can contaminate some manufactured products. You might also choose different glove colors for organizational purposes: you can consistently purchase one color for nitrile gloves and another for latex, thereby preventing people with a latex allergy from accidentally grabbing the wrong glove.

While you may think glove color is just a personal preference, in some industries, glove color makes all the difference. At AAA Wholesale Company, we offer many options in nitrile gloves. Determine what your need is, and let us help you fill it.

Three Reasons You Need Reclosable Bags

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Image by pixabay.com/en/users/joshuemd-230533/

There are many reasons you need reclosable bags in your home life. Packing a lunch. Storing leftover pizza. You may not realize how valuable they are in the medical supply, laboratory, or pharmaceutical industries. If you work in any of these industries, you need to check out these three reasons you need reclosable bags.

Ease of use

Perhaps the number one reason you need reclosable bags in the medical field is their ease of use. Reclosable bags are easy to open and close. When you’re trying to place something of importance  into a bag, you need to be able to open the bag without putting your item at risk.

Reclosable bags from AAA Wholesale Company are also extremely durable. You don’t need to worry about them ripping or tearing, as they are made from a thick 2 mil plastic to keep your product safe. They can withstand the tasks required of them. You can also rest assured that, when sealed properly, they don’t leak. Nothing gets in or out of our resealable bags. This is important in the medical field, as it keeps dirt and germs from getting in and medical products or specimens from being contaminated.

Superior protection

Another reason you need reclosable bags is that they offer spectacular protection for whatever product you are placing in them. This is especially important when transporting medical specimens like donated organs and blood samples. A resealable bag is an excellent choice for protecting and preventing contamination of medical paraphernalia.

Convenience

A final reason you need reclosable bags is their great convenience. Resealable bags make a great choice for holding and organizing medical supplies. The reclosable bags from AAA Wholesale company are very easy to keep organized. You can get bags that already have labels, so you only have to fill in parts and amounts. Or you can choose multi-colored reclosable bags and assign each item its own color. This can help reduce confusion when searching for the item you need for a job. You can also choose a resealable bag with hang holes. These holes make it easy to tie or zip-tie the bag and its contents to equipment or storage racks where the contents will be used.

There are many more reasons you need reclosable bags for your business, but these might just be the top three. Don’t forget, if you order from AAA Wholesale Company, you can get a great deal on reclosable bags in bulk.

 

How to Choose the Right Disposable Shoe Covers

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Image by OpenIcons – https://pixabay.com/en/users/OpenIcons-28911/

If you have ever tried to purchase disposable shoe covers, there are three things you need to consider.

 

Application

The first item you need to consider when you choose the right disposable shoe covers is their application: Why are you purchasing disposable shoe covers in the first place? What will you be using them for? Will you be wearing them somewhere that liquids could spill on them? If so, you will need disposable shoe covers that are waterproof. Is the ground or floor slippery where you will be wearing them? You might need to consider ones that are slip resistant. Do you need your disposable shoe covers to breathe? Make a list of your highest-priority needs.

Material

Once you know exactly what you want from disposable shoe covers, you can start to look at the different kinds of material used to make them. Disposable shoe covers are typically made out of three different materials: non-woven spunbond polypropylene (PP) fabric, polyethylene (PE) plastic, and cast polyethylene (CPE). PP fabric is great when you need non-skid disposable shoe covers. PE plastic is perfect for those times you need water-resistant ones, and CPE shoe covers are water resistant and non-skid.

Type of seam

The third thing you want to consider when you are trying to choose the right disposable shoe covers is the type of seam you need. There are four types of seams to choose from: ultrasonically welded, heat-sealed, tunneled elastic, and serged.

The ultrasonically welded seam is welded together using a superior particle and fluid barrier. There are no thread holes, so these are great when you need something waterproof. Heat-sealed seams are a good alternative when you need something waterproof, but the material you choose cannot withstand being ultrasonically welded. Tunneled elastic seams help keep out particles and prevent fluid contamination, and serged seams use threads that interlock around the edges of the material and provide a seam that can withstand stress. Use the list you created when you were determining the application for your disposable shoe covers to decide which seam will work best for you.

These three factors can help you choose the right disposable shoe covers and make the task seem a bit less daunting.