Hypothermia is a life-threatening condition. It refers when the core body temperature falls below the lowest temperature at which normal metabolism and bodily functions can take place. Mild symptoms might include shivering or mental confusion, while severe symptoms include amnesia, fast heart rates, and even major organ failure. Hypothermia occurs most frequently when individuals spend an unusual amount of time in extremely low temperatures, but there are other situations or locations that can produce hypothermia. In some cases, hypothermia can develop during a medical setting while being treated for other ailments. Since hypothermia requires its own treatment process and needs to be neutralized as quickly as possible, having an individual suffer hypothermia while they are already dealing with another ailment can put their health in jeopardy. This is why it is critical for every first responder IV kit to contain an IV fluid warmer. The rest of this article will explain the role of an IV fluid warmer in preventing hypothermia.
Treatment of hypothermia starts in the field. Timing is everything when treating hypothermia, and the sooner the condition is neutralized, the better. Unfortunately, many first responders lack the proper resources to treat hypothermia. These tools include warm, humidified oxygen and warm IV fluids to keep the core temperature from falling further. An IV fluid warmer is a device that can be used to quickly heat intravenous (IV) fluids. This means that those who are already experiencing hypothermia will be able to warm their body temperature thanks to the admission of these heated fluids. Those who are suffering another complication will not contract hypothermia due to the addition of fluids that are below core body temperature. An IV fluid warmer is an essential part of any first responder IV kit, but all warmers are not created equal.
As mentioned earlier, timing is of the essence when working to prevent or counteract hypothermia. Setup and warm-up times will vary depending on the device manufacturer, but the ideal setup time is 30 seconds. A warm-up time of 45 seconds is ideal for an IV fluid warmer. A device that can be built and heated in this time frame can begin to provide relief in just over one minute. A first responder IV kit should also be constructed in a way to not slow first responders down. Bulky devices that need to be plugged in to have power are impractical for field use, while lightweight (ideally under two pounds) devices that can run on battery power are preferred for field use. Additionally, first responders will be able to carry less in their first responder IV kit if the device has a sizeable flow rate range. A flow rate of 2-150 ml/minute is best because it means that a single device can be used to treat many different types of infusions.
Since timing is crucial when first responders are trying to prevent or treat hypothermia, it is important that a first responder IV kit is present. The device should also be portable and offer a wide range of options so that individuals do not have to waste time trying to find the proper device.