--- title: Successfully Disinfecting Equipment and Emergency Environments description: Let’s examine the nuances of cleaning and how to best maintain and emergency health care environment. image: https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/Good-Cleaning-vs.-Bad-Cleaning--Successfully-Disinfecting-Equipment-and-Emergency-Environments.png --- [![dark-header.jpg](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hub/212347/file-1107077240.jpg?width=940&name=file-1107077240.jpg "dark-header.jpg")](https://www.sscor.com/) ## **Thank you for visiting the SSCOR Blog.** Whether you're in a Hospital or EMS setting, this is the place for you. We'll share information on current industry news, tips, as well as the latest and greatest in SSCOR products. Our hope is that this blog is not only informative but a collaborative and open forum for you to share your thoughts on developing opportunities and challenges within your profession. Subscribe. Share your thoughts. Enjoy. -SSCOR Team   # [Successfully Disinfecting Equipment and Emergency Environments](https://blog.sscor.com/good-cleaning-vs.-bad-cleaning-successfully-disinfecting-equipment-and-emergency-environments) Posted by [Sam D. Say](https://blog.sscor.com/author/sam-d-say) Dec 7, 2022 6:00:00 AM 4 min read - [![LinkedIn Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2628248555-png/images/icons/linkedin-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/good-cleaning-vs.-bad-cleaning-successfully-disinfecting-equipment-and-emergency-environments#) 0 - [![Facebook Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2623658044-png/images/icons/fb-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/good-cleaning-vs.-bad-cleaning-successfully-disinfecting-equipment-and-emergency-environments#) 0 ![Good-Cleaning-vs.-Bad-Cleaning--Successfully-Disinfecting-Equipment-and-Emergency-Environments](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Good-Cleaning-vs.-Bad-Cleaning--Successfully-Disinfecting-Equipment-and-Emergency-Environments.png?width=847&height=424&name=Good-Cleaning-vs.-Bad-Cleaning--Successfully-Disinfecting-Equipment-and-Emergency-Environments.png) Long before the events of the past few years put a worldwide emphasis on guarding against viruses and dangerous bacteria, health care providers well understood the virtues of cleaning surfaces and guarding against pathogens.    But believe it or not, not all cleaning is created equally. Some chemicals one would expect to create a safe, sanitary environment may unintentionally work against that purpose. Let’s examine the nuances of cleaning and how to best maintain and emergency health care environment.   **Defining terms**   Many people use “disinfect,” “sanitize” and “sterilize” interchangeably. To a lay person, they simply sound like synonyms to be describe the use of stronger solutions to eliminate harmful microbes. It’s true that using certain chemicals, such as bleach and alcohol, will kill more germs than cleaning with soap and water, but there are [notable differences](https://medlineplus.gov/cleaningdisinfectingandsanitizing.html) between solutions intended to [sanitize, disinfect or sterilize](https://www.healthline.com/health/disinfect-vs-sterilize).   - **Traditional Cleaning: **Removes dirt and organic matter from surfaces using soap or detergents.   - **Sanitizing:** Kills bacteria on surfaces using chemicals, lowering the amount of bacteria to a safe level; not intended to kill viruses.   - **Disinfecting:** Kills viruses and bacteria on surfaces using chemicals.   - **Sterilizing: **Kills all microorganisms; used often in hospitals and performed by professional services or trained personnel.   As those brief descriptions indicate, the results of how we clean will vary depending on the intent of the specific solution or base chemicals used. When it comes to cleaning emergency equipment and environments, that matters.   **What to use**   Disinfecting products are ideal for emergency environments, especially ambulance, which can become rife with harmful pathogens following a shift or even a specific call. For example, a portable suctioning unit may be covered by bacteria such as staphylococcus or streptococcus, and viruses such as influenza or COVID-19 can survive in bodily fluids that remain in the unit.   Additionally, antimicrobial cleaners are generally preferred over antibacterial cleaners. The latter can also kill the “good bacteria” that is beneficial to our health. [Click here](https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/disinfection/disinfection-methods/index.html) for a list and overview of disinfectants by the CDC.   **Cleaning in emergency settings**   It’s not revolutionary to say health care settings require regular cleanings — especially in places where emergency treatment occurs and patients are in vulnerable states — but there are specific strategies to ensure you’re thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting locations.   These are a handful of best practices for general environmental cleaning techniques provided by the CDC:   - **Visual assessment:** Review the area. If the patient is present, would they post a challenge to safe cleaning, such as if you were planning to use bleach? Are there obstacles in the way, or broken furniture or equipment that should be reported? Are extra supplies or PPE required?   - **High-touch surfaces:** Pay special attention to these areas, which include bedrails, IV poles, sink handles, doorknobs, call bells, light switches and patient monitoring equipment.   - **Cleaner to dirtier: **There might be an instinct to clean the messier areas first, but that just spreads dirt, organic fluids and microorganisms to the cleaner areas.    - **High to low:** Cleaning from high areas to lower prevents falling dirt or microorganisms from contaminating areas that have already been cleaned (i.e., bed rails before legs and walls before floors).   - **Systematic cleaning: **Don’t clean haphazardly, moving from one area to another without any real intention. Try moving clockwise (or counterclockwise) in a room or ambulance. This way, you won’t miss any areas.   - **Ambulances: **Specific to vehicles, don’t forget to clean the outside of an ambulance, including high-touch surfaces, such as door handles. These areas can easily spread harmful pathogens.   **Cleaning equipment**   Equipment is often more intricate than other surfaces in an emergency treatment area, as devices tend to have smaller parts and crevices where microorganisms may be hiding.    There should be manufacturer guidelines to explain how to best clean a specific piece of equipment. For example, these steps generally apply for [portable suction devices](https://blog.sscor.com/how-to-properly-clean-a-portable-suction-device):   - Disconnect the unit from its power source. - Disconnect the battery from the PC board when cleaning the interior chassis. - Discard all disposable parts, including the canister, tubing, and catheters. - Dispose biohazardous materials appropriately. - Use a mild detergent or a mixture of bleach and water (1 part bleach/10 parts water) and rinse thoroughly. - Follow the instruction manual when disinfecting the mechanics of the unit. - Never submerge the suction unit. - Use disinfectant wipes to clean all outer surfaces, including control knobs, screens and handles.   **Happy cleaning**   Cleaning and disinfecting can be a rather tedious task, but it is vital to the proper management of a health care facilities or vehicles, as well as the health of patients and providers. With a proper plan and supplies in place, the task can be completed thoroughly and efficiently.      [![SSCOR Duet portable hospital suction with built-in battery protection](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/f5c69a04-3ccf-489f-ade0-568b00dbfb77.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/f5c69a04-3ccf-489f-ade0-568b00dbfb77) ![Author Photo](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SDS2-648378-edited.jpg?width=70&name=SDS2-648378-edited.jpg) ## AboutSam D. Say Sam D. Say is owner and CEO of SSCOR, Inc., a medical device manufacturer specializing in emergency battery operated portable suction devices for the hospital and pre-hospital settings. Mr. Say has been involved in developing product for healthcare providers for over 35 years. His passions include contributing to the management of the patient airway and providing solutions that save lives in difficult conditions. Search #### Most Popular Articles ### Post by Topic - [Medical Suction (103)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-suction) - [Airway management (102)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/airway-management) - [Emergency Preparedness (92)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/emergency-preparedness) - [Emergency medical suction (73)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/emergency-medical-suction) - [Portable suction for hospitals (34)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/portable-suction-for-hospitals) - [EMS suction (27)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/ems-suction) - [Handheld portable suction (26)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/handheld-portable-suction) - [Suction for EMS professionals (24)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/suction-for-ems-professionals) - [Respiratory (19)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/respiratory) - [medical scenarios (17)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-scenarios) - [portable suction (16)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/portable-suction) - [Battery-powered suction (15)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/battery-powered-suction) - [EMS Professionals (15)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/ems-professionals) - [airway obstruction (15)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/airway-obstruction) - [Hospital disaster preparation (14)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/hospital-disaster-preparation) - [respiratory assessment (13)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/respiratory-assessment) - [Intubation (10)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/intubation) - [Pediatric Suction (10)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/pediatric-suction) - [Medical Suction for Dental (9)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-suction-for-dental) - [Tactical trauma kit (7)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/tactical-trauma-kit) - [Crash Cart Supplies (6)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/crash-cart-supplies) - [Trauma (6)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/trauma) - [emt scenarios (6)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/emt-scenarios) - [Diseases & Infections (5)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/diseases-infections) - [aspiration pneumonia (5)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/aspiration-pneumonia) - [Aspiration (4)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/aspiration) - [Patient Transport (4)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/patient-transport) - [ambulance safety (4)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/ambulance-safety) - [Anaphylaxis (3)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/anaphylaxis) - [Suction Catheter (3)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/suction-catheter) - [nasotracheal intubation (3)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/nasotracheal-intubation) - [CDC (2)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/cdc) - [Medical Suction for Drowning (2)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-suction-for-drowning) - [Tactical medical bag (1)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/tactical-medical-bag) - [medical devices (1)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-devices) - [rapid sequence intubation (1)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/rapid-sequence-intubation) [see all](https://blog.sscor.com/good-cleaning-vs.-bad-cleaning-successfully-disinfecting-equipment-and-emergency-environments#) [![subscribe_to_sscor_blog](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/1209b5e9-2bd5-461c-9673-0f13ab98cab8.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/1209b5e9-2bd5-461c-9673-0f13ab98cab8) [![Aspirator_test_kit_sscor_suction](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/09b997f8-6c33-450c-9e98-6ea0f907f383.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/09b997f8-6c33-450c-9e98-6ea0f907f383) [![determining_contents_of_first_in_bag_guide_for_paramedics](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/03d28100-2a96-4c68-93d1-3e06a3b91cad.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/03d28100-2a96-4c68-93d1-3e06a3b91cad) - [![DUET-B-Front-370px](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/DUET-B-Front-370px.png "DUET-B-Front-370px")](https://www.sscor.com/duet_suction_unit_retention_bracket_portable_aspirator) - [![Duet Bracket Back with bracket](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/DUETBB-back-370px.png "Duet Bracket Back with bracket")](https://www.sscor.com/duet_suction_unit_retention_bracket_portable_aspirator) - [![S-SCORT III Front](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/S-SCORT3-front-370px.png "S-SCORT III Front")](https://www.sscor.com/s-scort_iii_suction_unit) - [![S-SCORT-III3-control-panel](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/S-SCORT3-control-panel-370px.png "S-SCORT-III3-control-panel")](https://www.sscor.com/s-scort_iii_suction_unit) - [![VX2-B-font](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/VX2-B-font-370px.png "VX2-B-font")](https://www.sscor.com/s-scort_vx2_option_portable_ems_suction) - [![VX-2 Bracket Back with Bracket](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/VX2BB-Back-370px.png "VX-2 Bracket Back with Bracket")](https://www.sscor.com/s-scort_vx2_option_portable_ems_suction) - [![Quickdraw Front](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/Quickdraw-370px.png "Quickdraw Front")](https://www.sscor.com/quickdraw_portable_suction_unit) - [![DCELL-front-angle](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/DCELL-front-angle-370px.png "DCELL-front-angle")](https://www.sscor.com/dcell_suction_hospital_aspirator) - [![DCELL-back](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/DCELL-back-370px.png "DCELL-back")](https://www.sscor.com/dcell_suction_hospital_aspirator) ### Follow us on social media: ## SSCOR Clearing The Airway Is Our #1 Priority **Company** [SSCOR Website](https://www.sscor.com/index.html) [About Us](https://www.sscor.com/who_are_we.html) [Contact Us](https://www.sscor.com/sales_support.html)   **Resources** [FAQ](https://www.sscor.com/Frequently-Asked-Questions.html) [Technical Support](https://www.sscor.com/technical-product-support.html) **Updates** [Upcoming Events](https://www.sscor.com/upcoming_events.html) *All data and information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. SSCOR, Inc. makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this blog and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.* Images and content of this blog are © 2023 SSCOR, Inc. All rights reserved.