Posts Tagged ‘uniforms’
Don’t be lazy, wear a lab coat now!
Any doctor, nurse, surgeon or support staff that is working in a medical institution will immediately tell you that your lab coat is a vital part of your daily work. Especially if you are a researcher dealing with highly toxic chemicals that are being experimented with, you will find that your lab coat is an extremely fundamental component that is used to protect you from any accidents that might occur during your course of work.
Even though the common perception of lab coats is that it must be white, you will be surprised to know that today, labcoats come in many different colors. One main reason for this being so, is for the purpose of identification. With different colored lab coats being assigned to different staff, the identification of the many roles that each staff plays becomes much easier.
In most medical institutions, you will find that doctors normally get issued white lab coats, whereas other support staffs such as nurses get issued lab coats that are either green or blue. Though this is common in most medical institutions, there are no fixed guidelines and the choice of color per department, is entirely up to the medical institution’s decision.
With the different colors of lab coats available today, you will also find many different types of lab coats as well. Lab coats have now been developed with different materials for different purposes, which is why you should consider your type of usage before deciding on which type to use.
A common guideline that is employed by many recognized medical institution, is to always discard your lab coat if it is contaminated, and send it for cleaning at a specialized cleaning facility, immediately. This is extremely important, as doing so prevents any type of contamination from occurring. Also, it will prevent anyone else from getting harmed by and toxic substances that might be found on your stained lab coat.
Should the amount of chemical contamination exceed acceptable levels, you would have no choice but to throw your lab coat away. If you have to do this, you will need to ensure that your lab coat is properly disposed of, as it should not be mixed with the rest of the trash.
Another thing you will need to note, is that it is highly recommended that you wear your lab coat properly at all times. This usually means that you have your lab coat fully buttoned up or zipped, and always have your sleeves fully extended and covering your arms. If you do not wear your lab coat properly, it will not be able to protect you from any toxic chemical substances that might cause you harm.
Medical Lab Coats: Why Medical People Need Them
Before there was medical uniform for doctors, scientists were the first group of people who first wore a white lab coat. At that time, their research proved that most of the medication that doctors used was inferior. During that period also, scientists were very much respected and trusted, especially in the field of medicine. And for this reason, doctors started wearing lab coats in order to achieve some extra level of trust and respect, which also serves as a symbol of seniority.
As of now, white lab coats can be generally seen being worn in many different areas of the medical profession. A lot of them are made with a blend of 65% polyester and 35% cotton, and can come in various styles. The design and length of the lab coat you use will depend on the policies enforced on a particular establishment you are working in. The way you wear them will also vary depending on which medical field you might be working in, or what may be ethical in your place of work.
Medical lab coats are a vital part of the medical wardrobe, most especially doctors, since it is this attire which protects them and what they are wearing from many different kinds of hazards in their workplace. This includes chemical hazards, and other spills and mess that can be commonly seen in a medical environment. It is for this reason that lab coats are a must in most medical establishments as it gives a considerable level of protection for the individual.
Medical lab coats also give an aesthetic enhancement for doctors and other medical practitioners like nurses, pharmacists, surgeons and lab technicians. It promotes a considerable level of respect and integrity for the one wearing it. Wearing a white lab coat enables someone to be easily recognized as part of the medical field, as it has long been a symbol for doctors and scientists alike.
Medical lab coats are not in all the same in its manufacture. If you are ever thinking of buying a white lab coat, it is a good idea to take note of some important aspects like the coat’s resistance to stains and wrinkles, the number of pockets available for storage, and the openings in the coat which allow for fee movement and easy access to the clothing beneath it.
Nowadays, medical lab coats are no longer restricted to the generic styles and designs as what the early doctor and scientists have been using. Of course this attire has also evolved and became more comfortable and fashionable, some even having other colors besides white. There are styles like lab jackets, slipover lab gowns, lab vests, and fitted lab coats. Lab coats now also are much more customized to fit in the individual sizes of men and women.
Besides lab coats with a blend of polyester and cotton, they can also come in a 100% cotton variant. It is usually worn by individuals who are working in an environment with lesser risks of spills, mess and other hazards that can stain and damage the coat. It also has the benefit of being much more comfortable and breathable, although it needs to be well taken care of and can be more expensive too. A 100% polyester white lab coat has the benefit of being more stain resistant.