Scrub Caps

Scrub caps were not considered essential until sometime in the mid-20th century. Through the 1940s and 1950s, the medical industry experienced a surge in focus on hygienic practices, and surgical caps were put into common use to help protect patients and medical staff. These caps serve three basic purposes:

1. Keep medical personnel’s hair clean of surgical fluids
2. Prevent hair and sweat from contaminating an open surgical site
3. Maintain clear sight lines for surgeons

Bright, colorful scrub hats can be seen in many ORs as medical professionals use their scrub caps as a way to express their individuality while still maintaining a sanitary environment.