Paramedics are asked to travel to a variety of different environments and tend to numerous ailments suffered by individuals. While some ailments are best treated at a medical facility and require paramedics to do very little, other ailments need to be addressed promptly. In these instances, there is not enough time for the victim to be transported to a medical facility, and treatment must be handled by the paramedic. One such ailment is hypothermia. This condition describes an instance when an individual's core body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
To counter hypothermia, efforts must be made to bring the core body temperature back to a safe range, and an IV fluid warming device does just that by administering warm fluids that provide the body with nutrients and help heat the body. If paramedic IV equipment does not include an IV fluid warming device, then hypothermia will be more difficult to suppress, and there is even the possibility that an individual who is suffering another ailment will develop hypothermia if the IV fluids that are administered are too cold.
To further illustrate the need for an IV fluid warming device, consider the three stages of hypothermia:
Mild
This is the first stage of hypothermia and is characterized by the least severe side effects. Individuals might exhibit nervous system excitation, like shivering or hypertension. These are physiological responses intended to generate heat. One might even exhibit mental confusion as hypothermia starts to affect their mental capacities. Hyperglycemia might also be observed, especially in those who are suffering hypothermia due to inebriation. Paramedic IV equipment is used to keep hypothermia patients in this state from advancing to the next stage.
Moderate
When core body temperature continues to fall, shivering becomes more violent as the body attempts to generate body heat. While the victim might appear to be alert, his or her movements will be slower. The body focuses entirely on keeping vital organs warm, which causes surface blood vessels to contract. The end result is paleness because lips, ears, fingers, and toes turn blue. Paramedics will use IV fluid warming devices to provide warm fluids to the victim, which will then cause the core body temperature to increase.
Severe
This is the worst stage of hypothermia and is seen in patients with a core body temperature of roughly 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Physiological systems begin to slow down as heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate all decrease. Serious problems like trouble with speaking, sluggish thinking, and amnesia appear while stumbling and the inability to use one's hands are also observed. Eventually, the victim's walking will become impossible, muscle coordination will be poor and the skin will turn blue.
Severe hypothermia can lead to death if not treated using heated paramedic IV equipment. Paramedics must make sure that IV fluid warming resources are lightweight, battery-powered, and easy-to-use so that few seconds are wasted while getting the device ready to use. Reach out to a vendor of IV fluid warming supplies to find a simple, portable device for paramedic use.