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Allergiesdue to inhalants Guide to "desensitizing" a room
Avoid toys or stuffed animals.
Necessary toys should be
wood, plastic, or metal--
never fabric. No
perfumes, talc,
cosmetics, or
flowers.
Paint walls or paper with
washable wallpaper. Inspect
wallpaper for any swelling,
indicating collection of molds.
No pennants, pictures,
or other dust catchers.
Install roll-up washable
cotton or synthetic
window shades.
No venetian
blinds
Avoid ornate
furniture. Plain
simple designs
catch less dust.
No open book-
shelves or books
--they are great
dust catchers.
Keep all clothes
in closets, never
lying about the room.
Enclose wool clothes
in plastic zipper bags.
No mothballs, insect
sprays, tar paper or
camphor. Keep closet
and all doors closed.
Use rubberized
canvas of plastic
upholstered furniture.
No fabric upholstery.
Wood or linoleum flooring.
No rugs of any kind. No
animals, birds or reptiles
in the house.
Use allergen-proof encasings for pillows,
mattress, and box springs. Zippered plastic
covers do not seal out dust. In use, zipper
leaks act as jets, spraying dust. Tape over
zippers to stop leaks. Vacuum all casings
frequently. Store nothing under bed.
Use washable cotton
or synthetic blankets,
not fuzzy surfaced ones.
Use easily laundered
cotton bedspread, not
chenille.
Electric heater preferred over hot air duct.
In homes with forced air heat, use filter or
damp cheesecloth over inlet to reduce dust
circulation. Change every two weeks. Cost
of centrally installed electrostatic air filter may
be justified. Consult your physician about air
purifiers. Keep bed away from air vent.
Use washable
cotton or fiberglass
curtains. No
draperies.
Install window
unit or central
air conditioning.
Keep windows
closed, especially
in summer. No
electric fans.
No smoking.
Use dacron or
other synthetics
for pillows, not
kapok, feather, or
foam rubber which
grows mold,
especially in damp
areas.
Cleaning Tips:
Wet-dust room twice daily.
Damp-mop floor with solution containing disinfectant
to prevent growth of mold spores. Oil-mop baseboards.
Vacuum only if followed by airing room. Use tank-type cleaner, vacuumed itself
before using. Attach a second hose to outlet, placing end outside window or in
hall to prevent redistributing allergens.
Allergiesdue to inhalants
Accredited by Accreditation
Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc.
1. Asthmasee patient instruction sheet, Asthma.
2. Allergic rhinitis (hay fever, nasal allergy) occurs when the nose and/or eyes react to pollens, house dust
or other factors specific to an individual.
The symptoms are: itchy nose; stuffy or runny nose; sneezing; itchy roof of the mouth; itchy eyes; red
eyes; watery eyes and swollen membranes in the eyes in almost any combination.
The treatment consists of symptomatic care (certain medicines may help improve the symptoms),
avoidance of allergenic substances, and in occasional cases hyposensitization (injecting the allergen
under the skin in gradually increasing doses).
See the guides below to help you avoid allergenic substances, especially house dust.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:






















Ways to help allergy patients avoid "a bad day at the office"
Drapes are dust catchers.
Lightweight, easily washable
synthetic curtains are best.
Plastic drapes of shower
curtain material are virtually
"allergy proof."
Air conditioners should be
vacuum cleaned, and filter
changed routinely.
Electrostatic precipitator
can eliminate up to 95%
of air-borne dust and
allergens.
Foam rubber can grow or
harbor fungi; use a polyester
stuffing instead, or spring
cushions. Covering should
be vinyl, plastic or other
synthetic material easily
wiped clean.
In furnitures, and decor, simplicity
is the watchword. Ornamentation
greatly increases the potential number
of dust-harboringsurfaces.
A discreet sign and
absence of ash-trays
will politely advise
visitors not to smoke.
Felt tip markers
can emit fumes.
If co-worker's lotion,
hair spray or perfume
seems to tease an
allergic sensitivity,
patient should not be
reluctant to tell them.
Windows kept closed and
sealed against air-borne allergens.
Factory office doors
weather-stripped to
minimize industrial
odors, fumes and dust.
Pencil sharpener
dust is frequently
a troublemaker.
Books are notorious collectors
of mold as well as being natural
dust-catchers. Keep books in
closed bookcases or closet.
Mold, a potent allergen
can be minimized by use
of humidifiers, confining
humidity to a healthy 40
percent range: neither
too damp to promote mold,
nor too dry so as to parch
the respiratory tract.
Guide to "desensitizing" a car
Vinyl seat covers help
keep dust and mold
from inside upholstery.
For allergies to plastic,
choose tightly woven
cloth, nylon or rayon.
Dark glasses may help
relieve light-sensitive
eyes, a common problem
with hay fever sufferers.
Tinted car glass may also
be helpful.
If possible, travel only in air conditioned cars. When outside air is allergen polluted,
recirculate interior air, taking in no new air from outside. Keep drafts from allergic pas-
senger's sensitive mucous membranes. In non-air conditioned cars, seal passenger
compartment air vents found beneath dashboard with cheese-cloth or trimmed to fit
standard air conditioning filter. Keep windows closed at all times during pollen season,
particularly station wagon rear windows, even when parked.
No smoking
in car.
Fur bearing animals in a
confined area can be a
major source of allergens.
Leave them home.
Use Dacron or other
synthetics for pillows,
not kapok, feather or
foam rubber which
grows mold, especially
in damp areas.
Clean floor mats often to remove collected
dust, pollen and molds. Keep vacuum OUTSIDE
car to avoid redistributing dust. Seal car leaks,
especially in convertibles to prevent water
accumulation on floor. Frequently expose mats
and underside padding to air and sun to help
prevent mold formation. Decontaminate mold
area with a spray such as Lysol, CN or Roccal.
Chemical pollutants in car fumes often
aggravate allergic patient's condition and
increase symptoms. To help control fumes:
have engine steam cleaned yearly; check
radiator, brake fluid, and gas caps for correct
sealing; change positive crankcase ventilation
valve (PCV) frequently; adjust carburetor and
automatic choke properly; inspect entire ex-
haust system often for leaks; never carry extra
gas in trunk; and avoid overfilling gas tank.
Have allergic passenger enter car before
starting engine to avoid exposure to exhaust
fumes usually excessive at that time.
Before winter, vacuum car's heater outlets,
especially in non-air conditioned cars. To
blow dust from system, operate heater for
twenty minutes with windows open and no
allergic passenger. Re-vacuum, dust, and
wash interior surfaces.
Pollen sensitive passengers should avoid riding in cars,
especially in the country during periods when pollen con-
centration is highest in their area. Blowing wind increases
pollen count at any time.
Avoid roadside areas and farms being sprayed with
insecticides or weed abatement chemicals. If unavoidable,
keep car windows closed.
When practical avoid rush hour traffic, heavily traveled high-
ways, and frequent stoplight intersections--all areas of
excessive motor vehicle exhaust accumulation which often
aggravates allergic conditions.
Try to plan routes so as to bypass immediate vicinity of
refineries and large industrial plants.
Avoid freshly tarred highways.
When refueling have passengers allergic to gasoline fumes
remain inside car with windows closed.
Keep at least four car lengths behind vehicles, particularly
when they leave blue exhaust smoke.
Don't follow diesel buses or trucks closely. Chemical
pollutants may aggravate an allergic passenger's condition
and increase their symptoms.
Helpful Suggestions
Rev. 12/01