Do you ever go to the doctors office and wonder why you are all of a sudden freezing? I know I personally bring a sweater when I go to the doctor even when it is 90 degrees outside.
There is a reason behind the temperature at medical facilities, and no health care professionals are not purposely trying to make you freeze! According to both the Center for Disease Control and Occupational Safety and Health Association it is essential that medical facilities keep their thermostats at very specific temperatures.
These temperatures typically range between the high sixties and low seventies, which can feel very cold for patients. You may wonder why medical offices blast their air conditioning. The main reason is that cold temperatures can prevent the spread of harmful bacteria in medical facilities. Both bacteria and viruses thrive in warm temperatures so to combat that issue the thermostat is turned way down. Hospitals and doctors offices change their thermostats based on the season and the requirements from the Center of Disease Control and Occupational Safety and Health Association. There are also requirements in health care facilities for air conditioning filters to be changed frequently. Think about all of the particles that are trapped in those air conditioning filters. Hospitals and doctors offices always have local HVAC companies on stand by to fix any issues that occur. Temperature issues in medical offices can literally be life or death for some patients, so it is essential that the air conditioning is always working in health care environments. The next time you feel chilly in the doctor’s office waiting room, just remember the thermostat is set that low to protect your health.