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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
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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,
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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
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