ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- A small company that produces an innovative waterless bathing system used in hospitals has stepped forward to help with personal hygiene needs in the flood-ravaged Midwest. Donated packages of Theraworx™, an all-natural, alcohol-free skin cleanser and protectant, are being used by health professionals as sullied conditions in Iowa increase the potential for the spread of disease.
With a lack of sanitary water in many communities there is a pressing need for a waterless, easy-to-use alternative for personal hygiene.
Theraworx development and research partner, St. John’sHospital in Springfield, Mo., facilitated the outreach effort. Quickly coordinated by the St John’s Foundation for Community Health, this week the aid organization Convoy of Hope delivered a shipment of the bagged, pre-moistened soft-cloths, distributing them in the flood zone in coordination with local and national relief agencies.
Caregivers and medical staff will use Theraworx to provide total-body cleansing of displaced patients, nursing home residents and those in need of sanitary assistance. In addition, health workers in the field and at remote clinics can use Theraworx to clean and protect themselves against bacteria, viruses, fungi and contaminants, including antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
The product was introduced recently at the annual meeting of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). “When the flooding hit, we heard first-hand reports from nurses during APIC,” said Jared Buckner, Theraworx general manager. “Right away we knew we had to help. We felt it was our calling to respond with the waterless baths since people in the Midwest really need to clean-up and protect themselves against bacteria and superbugs, especially now since the risks for disease will significantly increase during the recovery period.”
Theraworx is a replacement for traditional soap-and-water basin baths. It is used in hospitals, including St. John’s intensive care units and surgical wards, on the sickest and most at-risk patients to control infections and boost patient safety. In-vitro testing showed that the all-natural, alcohol-free solution is greater than 99.99 percent effective against a broad array of organisms, even after three hours.
In addition to in-patient settings, Theraworx is designed for all situations where water is not available including emergency response, search and rescue, disaster recovery, field operations and pre-hospital care. Company officials are working with FEMA and other government agencies to get the product into the hands of first responders and health workers for field use during natural disasters and recovery operations.
The self-contained waterless bathing system is available on multi-ply, pre-moistened soft cloths in either total-body bath or personal clean-up sizes. For individual use when there is no access to soap and water, there is a convenient 2-ounce bottle that provides approximately 150 applications, and an economy-sized 8-ounce bottle, both fitted with a foaming non-aerosol pump top.
The St. John’s Medical Research manages Theraworx testing and clinical studies. Because product research was developed and supported by St. John’s Medical Research Institute, the institute receives 1 percent of all Theraworx sales.
For more information, go to www.theraworx.com
Source: Theraworx
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