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- Talk
- UK
Efficacy of Surgical Helmet Systems for Protection against COVID-19, a Double Blinded Randomised Controlled Trial
Description
The presentation led by Bob Handley features Gavin Schaller discussing a double-blinded randomized control study on the efficacy of Surgical Helmet Systems in protecting against COVID-19. Gavin, who served as the lead design author for this research conducted at Whittington Health hospital Trust, explains the configuration and intended use of the Surgical Helmet System, which previously aimed to reduce infection risk during surgeries by minimizing exposure to contaminants from patients.
Schaller outlines the study's methodology, describing the randomized assignment of participants to receive either a solution inducing sweetness (saccharin) or a placebo. The results revealed that the helmet system did not significantly prevent the tasting of saccharin, leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. Interestingly, the presence of the helmet's fan seemed to hinder taste detection, suggesting that it may actually compromise safety rather than enhance protection. This study casts doubt on the efficacy of such helmets in aerosol-generating environments, particularly during procedures involving COVID-19 positive patients. Schaller emphasizes the implications of their findings, indicating that the surgical helmet system may not offer adequate protection and could even heighten risk to the wearer due to its design.