Emergency medical services (EMS) deliver acute care in the field and during transport in order to help stabilize a patient prior to facility entry. They also supply transport services to individuals who are unable to reach a medical treatment facility on their own. EMS service professionals help persons in need of immediate aid for certain conditions or assist in transporting a patient to a definitive care point such as a hospital or trauma center. Service providers assisting individuals in the field include:
Government Ambulance Assistance
Fire
Police
Volunteer Members
Private Ambulance Providers
Hospital Employed First Responders
Flight Response
EMS personnel serve the basic purpose of accomplishing initial first aid practices required to preserve human life, prevent additional injuries, and aid in a better recovery future. The level of delivered assistance depends on the tools these professionals have available on the scene. An EMS blood warmer is a device stored within the response vehicle to heat intravenously supplied fluids. It is used to supply additional comfort to patients receiving initial care and to prevent the development of hypothermia or additional complications. EMS medical products are designed to promote the six points set on the Star of Life that each response staff member follows when assisting an individual.
EMS Medical Products: Design Changes Enhance the Importance of Warmers
These EMS medical products have come a long way since their original introduction to improve the quality of delivered emergency care. The first warmer designs had these specific drawbacks:
Bulky Design
Difficult to Set Up
Wall Power Operation
Extended Outfitting Times
Heating Inconsistencies
Proprietary Components
High Risk of Bacterial Contamination
These complications caused numerous medical facilities to forgo their application when emergency care was needed. Devices were limited to a couple of rooms within a hospital or clinic, took a long time to prepare, and had to be cleaned between applications. Today's EMS blood warmers are quite different from the initial devices offered to medical professionals and have eliminated the above drawbacks. Here are many of the changes made by companies manufacturing this equipment:
Portable Design
Battery Power
Sensor Technology
Standard Components
Disposable
Lightweight
Decreased Setup and Warming Times
Automatic Flow Rate Adjustment
Low Mass Heaters for Stop Flow Conditions
Manufacturers have made it possible for these EMS medical products to be included as part of first response vehicle equipment and created a mobile, in-facility option. Sensor technology eliminates inconsistencies and low mass heaters assist with previously experienced stop flow issues. Disposable features remove the need for cleaning, consequently decreasing the risk of bacterial infections. Standard components, portability, reduced weight, and faster setup times have improved the likelihood of use among medical professionals.
These changes provide EMS personnel with the ability to heat fluids as part of initial patient treatment. This capability helps in preventing secondary conditions and allows for safer initial care in the field. Professionals including an EMS blood warmer as part of their equipment can remain focused on the patient's ailment rather than spending additional time alleviating preventable conditions such as hypothermia.