Question from Marylou W
My daughter is in occupational therapy. They use polyurethane mats, swings coated with who knows what chemicals, and other institutional products. I’m transitioning to home-based therapy but the organic or low VOC options for equipment are non-existant.
For example, I can either pay a couple thousand for organic mattresses or insurance will cover the 3″ polyurethane foam mats.
The same is true for a whole host of other necessary products–pay premium price out of pocket for something re-purposed to fit the need or accept the toxic product that’s made for that purpose and covered by insurance.
I’m trying to figure out if there are other options.
For example, the polyurethane foam comes covered in a vinyl fabric. Is there anything else I can cover that in to minimize the outgassing inside my house?
The Health Care without Harm website was unable to recommend alternatives. I’m hoping you or your readers have some creative ideas!
Debra’s Answer
I have no experience with occupational therapy equipment. If you want to do a private phone consultation with me, we could go over each item and I could see if I could offer a way to make it less toxic. I just don’t know what the items are. For example, you can cover the mat with a sheet of 5-mil thick polyethylene and it will block fumes.
Readers, any experience with occupational therapy equipment?
This is a test comment. What about paragraph spaceing?
I, too, am someone who can appreciate this dilemma.
I’m in the process of planning to convert a workshop space (at home) into a therapy space where I can see kids. I’m interested in the least toxic approach and most green approach I can find, which is how I found this post. I’m curious what MaryLou ended up doing with her floor mats as well as other ideas folks have come up with.
I found some promising looking mats, which had my interest until it was mentioned that the cover has a PVC coating on each side of the 3 ply reinforced polyester mesh. I’m now looking at getting 2+ inch polyethylene mats and making a fabric cover for them that I can take off and wash.
Here’s the link for the type of mat I am considering. It comes in a variety of thicknesses up to 4 inch. I’ve got a sample on the way. Debra, do you have any thoughts on this? This is pretty new to me so I could be overlooking something important. Once you click on the link, if you just before half way down the page, you’ll find a product description for “Minicell”. You are in the right place if you see colored samples of the product. http://www.foamforyou.com/minicell_foam.htm
Thanks MaryLou for putting the question out there and to everyone who responded.
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
This polyethylene foam is fine.
I SO appreciate the frustration this creates! Fortunately, now that you know which equipment your daughter needs, you can look at the specs online to get a better of idea whether you can affordably adapt it or not. If you need additional help, be sure to ask seasoned physical therapist s for ideas. (Their hands on experience can be invaluable.) Once you’ve pinpointed this information, be sure to revisit the prescribing doctor (or another doctor who is more open or informed) to ask that s/he rewrite the Rx with the details of what you need and include the appropriate diagnostic or symptomatic information. The doctor’s specifications are key to insurance coverage (but many doctors don’t have practical experience with this end of things to know these details, hence your need to advocate).
As for those vinyl covered 3″ polyurethane mats? Thick polyethylene will mitigate chemical exposures, but not eliminate them. It also may be too slippery for this purpose. If foil is tolerated in your household, Reflectix may be an option. It is a foil sandwich with polyethylene bubble wrap in between and can be found in nearly any hardware store’s insulation department. Good luck!
Hi,
I am an occupational therapist and it sounds like sensory intergration therapy. I use to work with all that equipment and never thought of the toxic chemicals until I had children and my own son was in OT and diving into vinyl beanbags and rolling on vinyl balls.
A few things I did for our home therapy was to make my own bean bag with cotton stuffing and a denim cover. My husband made our platform swing with plywood but I sealed it with a safe, low VOC sealer. I also used a non-toxic bed mattress for padding when needed instead of those vinyl mats. For therapy balls, I did not come up with any safer solution, but I feel like on the whole I cut down some on toxic exposure. Some swings have vinyl over the chains to make them softer and, as far as I know, that can be cut off so the child won’t be hollding onto vinyl when swinging.
Another thought, Whitelotus.net sells a foam called Evergreen foam. I haven’t tried it, but it might be an less toxic option for padding.
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
There is also polyethylene foam, which is probably the least toxic foam.