Thursday, December 17, 2009

Should Flowers Be Banned in Hospitals?

The most common gift to bring someone that happens to be stuck in a hospital is usually a bouquet of flowers or a get well soon card. Some people are concerned that flowers might actually be a risk for patients in hospitals. The United Kingdom has already banned flowers from hospitals grounds. Reasons to ban flowers was due to the bacterial growth in vase water and for the fact that patients and flowers compete for oxygen supply. In 1973 scientist found that the flower water in a vase contain a high percentage of bacteria, but have yet to cause infection to patients at hospitals. Also in the 1900's, nurses would take flowers out of patients rooms at night because they believed that the plants would take-in oxygen instead of producing it. This theory was later dismissed as a myth. The nurses are more worried about maintaining the flower instead of infections.

Many people may argue that flowers have beneficial effects for patients. When patients are giving flowers their emotions, mood, social interaction, and memory increases for the good. Flowers, plant and other herds have been used in the medical field for over 200 years now. Other studies show that patients with flowers had a decrease in blood rate and pressure and also less pain, anxiety and fatigue. Patients that have flowers in their rooms may have little risk but the beneficial effects of the flowers out-weight the risks. The power of the flower should not be banned for hospitals.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091216203449.htm

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