An EMS fluid warmer helps paramedics and ER doctors prevent hypothermia in injury victims. Traditionally, an IV fluid infusion is delivered cold - a practice that predisposes patients to hypothermia and its side effects, including:
Hospital-acquired wound infections
Cardiac arrest
Increased oxygen consumption
Impaired coagulation
Coma
Although all IV warmers perform the same function, different models have different specifications that affect their usefulness in emergency situations. Below are tips for choosing a model that is ideal for delivering emergency infusions.
Find out how long the device takes to set up and heat
The length of time that is required to set up and heat the device has a significant impact in the health of the patient. Some warmers take over ten minutes to set up and heat, while others take less than two minutes. Considering the tight timeframes for delivering emergency transfusions, hospitals and EMS crews should use a device that is ready for use in less than two minutes.
Ask about the weight of the device with the battery attached
The weight of an EMS fluid warmer affects its portability. Because EMS crews often travel over difficult terrain to reach injury victims, they need a device that is lightweight with the battery attached. Some portable IV fluid infusion systems weigh several pounds with the battery attached, while others weigh less than two pounds. The latter are ideal for EMS crews.
Find out whether the device is disposable or reusable
A disposable device has three advantages over a reusable device: it eliminates the cost sterilization and maintenance, prevents bacterial infections that result from improper sterilization, and allows EMS crews to travel light. Although it is disposable, patients use the device throughout their hospital stay.
Ask About how the device reads the temperature of the liquid
Placing a temperature sensor in the path of the liquid is the best method of temperature measurement. Other methods, such as measuring the temperature of the warming plates or the circulating water, measure the temperature of the liquid indirectly. Only by directly measuring the liquid's temperature do paramedics and physicians know whether it has reached the right temperature.
Find out whether the device uses proprietary tubing
Proprietary tubing sounds as if it delivers a special benefit, but this is usually not the case. However, it still costs more than standard tubing, and must be ordered from the manufacturer. In most cases, using a device that requires proprietary tubing increases the operating cost of the customer without improving its standard of care.
Conclusion
Shopping for a portable EMS fluid warmer presents hospitals and EMS crews with several options. To choose the best device, EMS services and hospitals should consider the tips above. In most cases, the best portable IV fluid infusion system is one that is ready to use in less than two minutes, weighs less than two pounds, is disposable, directly reads the temperature of the liquid, and uses standard tubing. For more information about choosing an IV warmer for emergency rooms and EMS units, contact a supplier a paramedic IV supplies today.