The Risks of Using a Bair Hugger Warming Blankets

Bair Hugger Warming Blankets keep patients warm before, during, and after surgery. These blankets circulate air close to a parent's body. These blankets help patients' circulation which aids in recovery. The healing process is incredibly important after surgeries. When a patient has had surgery, they are more at risk for blood clots and infections.

By keeping the patient warm and increasing circulation, Bair Hugger Warming Blankets have helped millions of patients since they were initially invented in 1987. While these blankets have helped many people throughout the United States, they have resulted in serious personal injuries in other cases. These blankets can suck up bacteria and circulate them over the patient's body and create infections.

MRSA is short for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This is a serious type of staph infection that is become resistant to many types of antibiotics that can be used to treat ordinary staph infections. Most MRSA infections happen to patients who've spent time in nursing homes, dialysis centers, and hospitals. When a patient contracts MRSA after using a warming blanket, the infection is often called healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA).

The dangerous aspect of MRSA infections is that they are resistant to many types of antibiotics. Germs can survive treatment from one antibiotic and develop in a way that they are resistant to even the most strong antibiotics. MRSA most commonly infects a person's joints, bones, heart, lungs, and bloodstream. People are often infected with MRSA in the hospital after coming into contact with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Deep joint infection can be a tremendous hazard and burden for individual patients. Deep joint infection can cause tissue to die throughout the affected joint. Joints that are mainly affected are knee joints and hip joints. Patients whose joints become infected often need to have one or more surgeries to try to repair this damage. Surgical procedures are also much more high risk when they are performed close together.

Septic infections, also called septic arthritis happens when a joint becomes inflamed due to a fungal or bacterial infection. This condition happens when a penetrating injury or occurs above or near a joint, which allows bacteria to enter the joint directly. Bacteria can also spread through the bloodstream to an affected mount caused by a recent infection that the patient acquired after a surgery. Septic arthritis will usually spread from the joint that was operated on to joints near the arms and legs. Typically, hip, ankle, knee, shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints are affected. Septic arthritis can also happen in the pelvis, heels, and spine.

Unfortunately, septic arthritis can quickly cause severe damage to bones and cartilage within someone's joint. Without aggressive medical treatment, a person can suffer severe and permanent joint damage. Complications can include redness, fever, swelling, and pain at the joint. Pain usually increases when the patient moves the joint. In severe cases, septic infections can move to critical organs and affect the lungs and organs. Other complications can also happen, including the following:

• Multiple surgeries
• Extended hospital stays
• Amputations
• Permanent and total disabilities
• Death

The inventor of Bair Hugger Warming Blankets, Dr. Scott Augustine, has worked to expose problems with the blankets to the public. He has criticized the current Bair Hugger Warming Blankets, pointing out the mandatory recall of many of the blankets. These blankets can contribute to the spread of bacteria.

Many people who have used Bair Hugger Warming Blankets have claimed that the blankets caused the infection in their joints. Some reports have stated that the Bair Hugger Warming Blankets result in a bacteria level of over 2,000 times higher than when a patient is not using the blanket.

Thousands of people across the United States have filed lawsuits alleging that Bair Hugger Warming Blankets caused their infections and resulting serious personal injuries. If you have suffered an infection after the use of a Bair Hugger Warming Blanket, you too might be entitled to compensation. You will need to prove that the blanket caused you to be exposed to bacteria that resulted in your injuries.

At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, we have extensive experience representing clients in personal injury lawsuits. We have the knowledge and experience necessary to advocate assertively on your behalf. We offer our new clients a free initial consultation at our Charlotte personal injury law firm. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.