Introduction to Hospital Blankets 

Understanding Hospital Blankets for Patients in Singapore:

Comfort, Hygiene, and Care

When we think of a hospital, our minds often focus on the doctors, nurses, and medical equipment that play such a critical role in patient care. However, one often-overlooked yet essential element in a patient’s journey to recovery is the patient blanket. While it may seem like a simple piece of linen, a hospital blanket serves a vital role in providing warmth, comfort, and hygiene to patients during their stay. In Singapore’s humid climate and where healthcare facilities maintain some of the highest standards of patient care, the importance of choosing the right type of hospital blanket cannot be underestimated.

In this guide, we will share more on the different types of hospital blankets used in Singapore, their importance in patient comfort and infection control, and the factors to consider when selecting the right hospital blanket for patients. 

Whether you're a healthcare professional, a patient, or a caregiver, understanding the role of hospital blankets can enhance your awareness of how seemingly small details contribute to a better healthcare experience. 

Types of Hospital Blankets in Singapore

Patient blankets come in various sizes, weights and materials. Typically, they are made from durable, easy-to-launder and more lasting materials such as Cotton, Polyester or a mix blend. Often they are lightweight yet provides a level of warmth and comfort, keeping patients cool and comfortable during their hospital stay. It is also important to choose materials that minimizes the spread of bacteria and viruses.

Material:

• Cotton blankets:
• Soft and gentle on the skin, provides warmth, is breathable 
• Durable, Easy to launder and can withstand multiple washes, keeping infection control in place

• Polyester blankets: 
• Easy to maintain, Durable
• Quick-drying and resistant to wrinkles and shrinking compared to Cotton blankets
• Lightweight yet provides warmth

• Fleece blankets:
• Soft, provides warmth and a cozy feeling for patients 
• Is an excellent insulation while remaining breathable and lightweight
• Hypoallergenic, good for patients with sensitive skin
• Easy to launder and quick-drying

Despite the different options to consider from, it is important to look at the durability, easy-to-use and launder, and affordability in the long run. 

Types of Hospital Blanket Sizes:

1) Standard Adult Hospital Blanket Sizes

• Commonly used to fit typical hospital beds, single or double beds 
• Important to take note the size depends on the size of the bed and amount of coverage required

For Standard/Single Bed Blankets, appx. around 60” x 90”

For Double/Queen Bed Blankets, appx around 70” x 90”

2) Pediatric and Children's Hospital Blanket Sizes

Hospital blankets for children, including those used for pediatric beds, are generally smaller than adult blankets to suit the size of children's beds. 

• For Children’s Bed Blankets, appx around 47” x 71”
• For Newborn’s Bed Blankets, appx around 35” x 47” 

These smaller blankets are often used to swaddle babies or be used in incubators. Typically, Cotton blankets are often used as they are soft, lightweight, breathable and are non-toxic, hypoallergenic. 

Customisation:

For customisation of company logo, hospitals can work with a local vendor to have their logo embroidered on the blankets. It is best to engage a local supplier who supplies the blankets and provides embroidery services to support an all-in-one service. Engaging separate suppliers might not be the best solution as they might not be familiar with the blanket’s material and if it is suitable for logo embroidery.

Choosing the right Hospital Blanket

Here are some points to take note when deciding: 

• Bed Size: Refer to the bed size and ensure the blanket fits the bed. If it is a single, standard bed size, a standard adult-sized blanket will fit

• Patient’s needs: Consider if the blankets will be used in normal wards or special wards such as the Intensive Care Units (ICU)

• Purpose: Consider if the purpose is for general comfort and recovery, intensive care, surgical recovery, etc.

• Ease of care: Choose a material that fits the purpose of the patients yet it is easy to launder and quick-dry. Hospital blankets require frequent washing and it is important to choose a material that is durable

What makes a good Hospital Blanket? 

Here are some important qualities to look for when purchasing hospital blankets: 

• Comfort & Functionality
• Material & Fabric Type
• Care, Maintenance & Durability
• Price

1) Comfort & Functionality: Comfortable, Keeps patients warm, Doesn’t trap bacteria

Cotton is known to be breathable and is a popular choice among hospitals.

Having a soft blanket is important especially if the patient needs to be comfortable throughout his recovery stay and especially in Singapore’s humid conditions, the material shouldnt trap heat or bacteria

2) Material & Fabric Type: Soft, Breathable

It is important to choose a material that is soft and doesn’t itch. It should be able to withstand frequent washes and high heat wash conditions without losing its durability and functionality, will not easily tear or fray.

A good blanket might not be affordable yet it need not be too expensive. It is important to look at its comfort and durability before weighing the cost if it works out in your favour in the long run.

3) Care, Maintenance & Durability

Consider durability and easy maintenance when selecting a good hospital blanket as due to the nature of the industry, hospital blankets require frequent laundry and may sometimes be exposed to hazardous fluids.

A good hospital blanket should be easy to see if there are any staining, or potential hygiene issues so that dust, germs are not caught in between the blankets as that could result in an infection risk. 

4) Price

As hospital blankets will often be exposed to a significant amount of biohazard (such as large amounts of blood from an injured person with a bloodborne disease) that they will need to be retired much earlier than a blanket would in a standard setting, weigh the cost that works out in your favour in the long run.

However, although finding an affordable blanket is important but don’t always look at the cost as the deciding factor to a good hospital blanket. A pricier blanket isn’t necessarily better or vice versa. Most importantly, look across the 4 different factors before making your decision.

How to Wash Hospital Blankets & Linens

Washing Protocol for Linens

If the linens are heat stable, wash them at:

• Over 65˚C for at least 10 minutes. This is a 14-minute cycle time on low loading, or 18-minute cycle time on high loading.

• OR preferably 71˚C for at least 3 minutes. This is a 7-minute cycle time on low loading, or 11 minutes on high loading.

Washing the linens at these temperatures will eliminate most contaminants except for spore-forming organisms. To eliminate spore-forming organisms, use chemical disinfection with sodium hypochlorite and achieve a free chlorine concentration of over 180 ppm in the second rinse.

If you’re working with heat labile materials, use chemical disinfection at a low temperature (e.g. sodium hypochlorite at & 150 ppm free chlorine).

Drying and Transport of Clean Linens

Once washed and dried, clean linens should be moved to a separate work area away from soiled linens. Package the clean linens prior to transport to ensure that they aren’t contaminated by dust and dirt while on the way back to the healthcare facility. There are a few ways to do this:

• Putting clean linen in a hamper with a previously unused liner, then closing this
• Putting clean linen in a clean cart, then covering this securely
• Wrapping the clean linen in plastic (or other suitable material) and sealing the bundles

Where to buy Hospital Blankets in Singapore

Discover top-quality patient blankets in Singapore, available in various colors. Stretchable, soft, and warm—perfect for ultimate comfort and coziness.



1) MF.ASIA: Best for hospitals, clinics, personal orders

Services available: MF mainly deals with businesses. They’re a workwear solution designed to solve your medical workwear needs seamlessly. They offer both reusable and disposable scrubs and other customisation options like embroidery, printing and alteration services.

As MF Asia works with a large base of healthcare clients, you can be assured that they are knowledgable and will be able to provide you with the right options that addresses your patient care needs.

MF Asia offers a wide range of hospital blankets in Singapore that comes in a range of material, is stretchable and keeps patients warm and cuddly. They support Hospitals, Care Homes and Medical and Healthcare facilities.

Conclusion

Our bodies require sufficient rest and quality sleep to promote faster recovery. Just as important as the mattress and pillows, is the hospital blanket and the quality of linens can significantly affect a patient's hospital experience.

In Singapore, hospital blankets come in various sizes to suit different settings. When selecting hospital blankets, it’s important to consider factors such as the bed size, patient comfort, as well as the durability and ease of maintenance of the material.

If you need help with the selection of hospital blankets, speak to us today.

Read more:

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