Be Quiet

Although the World Health Organization guidelines recommend <35 decibels of continuous background noise in patient rooms, with peaks at night not to exceed 40 decibels, it often exceeds 90 decibels. Staff voices and medical equipment alone produce ~70-75 decibels.  Other sources of noise include alarms, bedrails, telephones and pneumatic tube systems.  The noise from a portable x-ray machine can exceed 90 decibels, which is the same as walking next to a highway when a large truck passes.  Noise levels have been associated with increases in patient blood pressure and heart rate, and poor sleep patterns.  Noise levels in nurseries have been associated with increases in oxygen demand.  High levels of noise can also decrease verbal communication comprehension, imperiling communication between caregivers. Reducing noise should be a patient safety priority.

Read more about noise in the ED