In striving to ensure the comfort and safety of patients, staff and other clients, the Sudbury Regional Hospital is reminding visitors of its scent-free policy, stating the importance of public co-operation in not wearing perfume, cologne, aftershave, body sprays or heavily scented hair products to the hospital.
?It is imperative that this message begins to get through," occupational health and safety nurse Lee-Anne Bell said in a press release.
"We could be dealing with potentially serious medical side-effects, with each exposure to an allergen. In some cases, a person?s reaction can increase in severity with each exposure and may lead to a medical emergency.?
Scented products tend to linger long after the person wearing them has left a room, elevator or waiting area.
Many people, particularly those with respiratory related illness or allergies, are susceptible to problems with scented products, and can react to them in a variety of ways.
Shortness of breath or breathing difficulty, coughing, wheezing, stuffy nose, headaches, rash and hives are all common reactions for people with this kind of sensitivity.
