Greening critical care
1 Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Rm D108, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4N 3M5
2 Freelancer, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Rm D108, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4N 3M5
Critical Care 2011, 15:302 doi:10.1186/cc9409
Published: 15 March 2011Abstract
Climate change and environmental stewardship are phrases that have been defining the past few decades and promoting change in our societies. The sensitivities of intensive care as a specialty make the process of greening an intensive care unit a challenge, but not one that is insurmountable. This paper discusses opportunities for critical care to reduce its environmental impact and provide a framework change. The article includes suggestions of what can be done as an individual, as a unit and as a hospital. Generally, practices in critical care are accepted without questioning the environmental consequences. We believe it is time for change, and critical care should give environmental stewardship a higher priority.
