<h2>Surgical Smoke Evacuation Delegate Karrie Delaney (<a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=241&typ=bil&val=hb763" target="_self"><ins>HB 763</ins></a>)Senator Lamont Bagby (<a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=241&typ=bil&val=sb537" target="_self"><ins>SB 537</ins></a>) </h2>
Surgical smoke (plume) is the result of human tissue contact with lasers and electrosurgical pencils commonly used for dissection and hemostasis during surgery.&nbsp;
This legislation would simply require a healthcare facility to adopt and implement policies that require the use of a smoke evacuation system during any surgical procedure that is likely to generate surgical smoke.
Use the following screens and information to contact your legislators in support of this issue! Please note that not everyone will be able to submit a message as we are targeting certain legislators.

The average daily impact of surgical smoke to the surgical team is the equivalent of inhaling the smoke of 27-30 unfiltered cigarettes. 

Please ask your legislator to vote YES on HB 763 & SB 537!

As your constituent and a nurse, please support HB763 and SB537 - surgical smoke evacuation bills.

HB 763 & SB 537 would simply require a healthcare facility to adopt and implement policies that require the use of a smoke evacuation system during any surgical procedure that is likely to generate surgical smoke. Surgical smoke can be safely and effectively eliminated with available technologies. Captured surgical smoke is disposed of as hazardous waste. It is important to note that surgical smoke evacuation does not involve construction costs or changes to a facility’s HVAC system or general room ventilation.

What is surgical smoke?
Surgical smoke (plume) is the result of human tissue contact with lasers and electrosurgical pencils commonly used for dissection and hemostasis during surgery. Approximately 90% of all surgical procedures generate surgical smoke, and an estimated 500,000 healthcare workers are exposed to surgical smoke each year. The average daily impact of surgical smoke to the surgical team is the equivalent of inhaling the smoke of 27-30 unfiltered cigarettes. Surgical smoke contains more than 150 hazardous chemicals and carcinogenic and mutagenic cells. It contains toxic gasses and vapors such as benzene, hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde, bioaerosols, dead and live cellular material, blood fragments, and viruses. 

In addition to the danger to healthcare workers, surgical smoke can cause cancer cells to metastasize in the incision site of patients having cancer removal surgery. Babies born by C section breathe in their mother’s surgical smoke at birth. 

Fourteen states protect operating room staff and patients from surgical smoke.
To date, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana,  Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington have enacted  legislation, and many more will consider this legislation in 2024.

Regulations and safety precautions recommended to minimize or eliminate the potential harm from smoke inhalation or absorption are offered by regulatory and standard-setting organizations, including the following: 
 - the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 
 - the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
 - the Centers for  Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
 - the Joint Commission

Please support our healthcare heroes and vote yes on HB 763 & SB 537!

Please ask your legislator to vote YES on HB 763 & SB 537!

Surgical Smoke Evacuation

Surgical Smoke Evacuation
Delegate Karrie Delaney (HB 763)Senator Lamont Bagby (SB 537)

Message

Surgical Smoke Evacuation Delegate Karrie Delaney (HB 763)Senator Lamont Bagby (SB 537)

Message

Surgical Smoke Evacuation
Delegate Karrie Delaney (HB 763)Senator Lamont Bagby (SB 537)