The first two days of September saw temperatures in Central Ohio in mid to high 90’s and even at one point in the 100’s. I do not think in all of the month August we had two consecutive days with the temperature in the 90’s. And August is supposed to be the hot month. On Thursday when I got out of classes at 4:00PM my car outside temperature sensor said it was 102, that was from sitting in the sun all day, though by the time I got to NASH the temperature sensor had drop only 5 degrees.
The outside has not been the only hot place NASH CSD has been too. In CSD there are four autoclaves that are approximately 7 feet deep and 4 feet high and wide. Some instruments are sterilized at a minium of 270-degrees for 4 minutes and other at the same temperature for 8 minutes. The autoclaves do cool down some before they are opened up. When the autoclave opens it is still very warm and the heat is expelled into the room, thus the room temperature, which is usually at 65f, climbs dramatically.
Also in deco (decontamination), while wearing a head cap, mask, plastic apron, double gloves and paper boots, it can get very warm. I use very hot water to prewash some of the instruments, which make it steamy hot. Also just moving around all geared up makes it warm too. If I do not take a break of some kind my scrubs can become soak with sweat and condensation from the plastic apron.
At school in the OR Lab it can become warm as well. We try to keep it cool in the OR for a couple of reason one to simulate an actually OR setting and second to keep us cool. When I become “sterile” (gown, masked, head cover, and gloves) I become very again. None of the “clothing” breathes. On top of all of this stuff that I am wearing I am nervous about whatever I am being checked off on. So this adds to my body temperature and I sweat more.
I do not want it to sound like I am complaining about the work and school conditions. I am not. I actually enjoy it. When I am getting hot like that I feel like I am working harder and or accomplishing the task at hand. The only thing that I am complaining about it the 90-degree heat in the first of September!
(This post has become a bit long and I wanted to share about my week in Surg Tech too, but I will wait and write a separate post about that.)
Have a great weekend and stay cool wherever you are!
