Breast Cancer Prevention

Ripple was approached by Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP) to raise awareness about a toxic chemical used to make IV bags and tubing used in hospitals nationwide, despite known links to breast, liver, lung, and testicular cancers. The chemical, DEHP, leaches out of the plastic into medication and other fluids being infused into the bloodstream of patients, posing a major health risk to already vulnerable populations. Ripple spearheaded a “Toxic Free IV” media campaign in anticipation of a vote in California to ban DEHP in IV bags and tubing manufactured, sold, or used in the state. Our outreach resulted in significant media coverage including TV interviews with BCPP’s CEO Suzanne Price on Sinclair Broadcast Group which reaches over 80 million people; and the Bay Area’s ABC 7. There were also multiple features in outlets such as Environmental Health News, the Cool Down (republished on msn.com), and Medical Device Network (republished on Yahoo! Finance). Ripple also drafted and placed two op-eds, one in Stat News, directly reaching our target audience of healthcare workers; and the other in California’s San Fernando Valley Sun. In the end, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Toxic-Free Medical Devices Act into law making patients safer throughout the state and hopefully prompting other states to follow.