Staph Infections 101

Staph infections are caused by a type of germ called staphylococcus bacteria. If it is on the surface, staphylococcus bacteria can be harmless. Many healthy people have this somewhere on their skin or in their nose without any issues. However, if the bacteria travel deeper into your body as a result of a weakened immune system or if you come into contact with a particularly harmful strain, your health could seriously be at risk. The aim of Staph Infections 101 is to give a brief summary of the infection and how it can be recognized, treated, and prevented.

Symptoms
There are a wide range of symptoms that an infection from the staph bacteria can cause, but most infections begin with the skin. The most common sign will be the appearance of boils, pus-filled pockets on the skin, around the underarms, buttocks, and groin area. Children often suffer from a blistering rash called impetigo, which develops around the mouth and nose. Impetigo blisters often ooze before crusting over. Older patients tend to suffer from a condition called cellulitis in the lower legs and feet. This is an infection of the deeper layers of the skin, but may show up on the surface as redness and swelling. More serious symptoms of a staph infection can include bacteremia (blood poisoning), toxic shock syndrome, and septic arthritis.

Treatment
Treatment for staph infections will vary based upon what strain you have and what your symptoms are. Skin infections will most often be drained of any fluid buildup. To attack the infection itself, a doctor will test what exact strain is causing the affliction and then prescribe the antibiotic that is most likely to be effective. Two common antibiotics used are cephalosporin or nafcillin.

Prevention
One of the most common places to contract a staph infection is in a hospital. This is because the human turnover rate is very high, increasing the exchange of germs, and because hospital patients tend to have weaker immune systems. An easy way to help avoid this is by using hand sanitizer often, but a more effective way is for hospitals to ensure they have thoroughly sanitized sheets. In-house laundry systems are usually not as good as professional laundry services, and linens that have not been perfectly disinfected create the risk of cross-contamination. If you are running a hospital, keep this in mind as you consider your current linens situation and ways to decrease the likelihood of cross-contamination occurrences. If you are an individual, you can decrease your risk by keeping your hands clean and avoiding sharing personal items such as razors or towels.

The Little Things That Help Patients Feel Better

Studies have shown that patients with a higher morale actually tend to heal much more quickly than patients with a more pessimistic outlook. Though it may sometimes be difficult to inspire optimism in someone suffering from an illness, there are many small yet effective ways to help patients to feel better and to encourage higher morale, despite their ill health and sufferings. Surprisingly minor details in their daily lives can contribute to an overall outlook that is happier and more optimistic, and thus more conducive to getting well.

A Brighter Day

Being stuck inside can make anyone a feel bit stir crazy or just a little low. Sick patients often must stay inside for extended periods of time, and often there is little that can be done about this. However, the way a room is kept can really make a difference in just how "indoors" it feels. If there is a big window to let light in and a view, this is ideal. If not, the room can still be worked on to feel brighter and cheerier. Pristine hospital walls are already bright and white, but additions like fresh flowers or brightly colored pictures can really help to give a less "stuck inside" feel and brighten up the day.

Laughter

There is a very good reason for the saying "laughter is the best medicine." Laughter helps us to lighten the mood in any situation. When you are sick, laughter can be a large part of simply feeling normal in the face of discomfort, hardship, and possibly feelings of depression. Whether it is engaging in a funny conversation or watching a comedy, a regular dose of humor can do wonders for encouraging feelings of happiness and optimism.

Fresh and Comfortable Linens

This may sound like too small of a detail to make much of a difference, but it is easy to underestimate the importance of a comfortable bed to someone who spends as much time lying down as a sick patient. Having fresh and comfortable linens to lie down on can make the situation of being so often stuck in bed seem considerably less bleak. By having linens that look, smell, and feel clean, fresh, and soft, you can really brighten a sick patient's day and encourage optimistic feelings of comfort and wellness. By having linens professionally laundered, you can really make this little detail a big part of their daily enjoyments.

Advanced Medicine and Top Training at the University of Kentucky Hospital

First opened in 1962 as the UK College of Medicine and Albert B. "Happy" Chandler Hospital, the University of Kentucky Hospital has transformed into a state-of-the-art facility that both addresses a shortage of well-trained physicians and serves patients from around the country and the world. As a matter of fact, over 10,000 patients are transferred each year from various other hospitals because of the University of Kentucky Hospital's reputation for providing advanced medical treatment and attentive care. When such a need arises, guests are met with friendly smiles and restful accommodations at hotels in Lexington, Ky.

University of Kentucky Hospital houses a high quality academic medical center, providing talented students with the very best instruction and hands-on experience that can be offered. The hospital's campus also contains additional colleges in the healthcare related fields of Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health Sciences and Public Health. It is ranked number one in the state and has received a triple designation for ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), the fifth U.S. medical center to do so.

This highly acclaimed university hospital, which can be easily accessed from numerous nearby hotels in Lexington, Ky, offers such key facilities and services as:

Level I trauma center which serves eastern Kentucky.

The UK Gill Heart Institute where some of the nation's leading heart specialists practice.

The UK Markey Cancer Center which offers the best and newest means of battling malignant diseases.

The region's only solid-organ transplant program.

The nationally recognized Kentucky Neuroscience Institute which combines the programs of neurosurgery and neurology.

The Kentucky Children's Hospital which meets the needs of critical pediatric patients via specialty and subspecialty services.

Friends and family can stay at one of the many fine hotels in Lexington, Ky that not only provide friendly and comfortable accommodations, but also offer convenient locations for those daily trips to visit loved ones admitted to the University of Kentucky Hospital. Whether you prefer booking a room in a lavish luxury hotel, a mid-range comfort hotel, or a money-saving budget hotel, Lexington proudly meets your accommodation needs.

When not checking on loved ones, families will find a large selection of entertaining activities positioned close to hotels in Lexington, Ky to keep minds off of dire situations. This beautiful city is known as the Horse Capital of the World, so there are plenty of horse-related venues for horse enthusiasts to enjoy. Visit Keeneland or the Red Mile for exhilarating horse races, stop by the Kentucky Horse Park, the American Saddle Horse Museum, the International Museum of the Horse, or take a relaxing tour of one of the many picturesque horse farms which breed these majestic animals.

Lexington is also a city rife with history and surrounded by natural beauty. Stop by and see the Waveland State Historical Site, the childhood home of Mary Todd Lincoln, or famed Kentucky statesman Henry Clay's estate. Bask in Kentucky's natural setting by visiting McConnell Springs, or taking a long walk along trails that wind through the Raven Run Nature Sanctuary.

When necessity brings you to the University of Kentucky Hospital, book a room at one of the accommodating hotels in Lexington, KY where you will experience down-home comfort and true southern charm.

Why Should a Paramedic IV Kit Contain a Portable IV Warmer?

A paramedic IV kit should contain a portable IV warmer to assist injury victims who need emergency infusions. When injury victims receive cold infusions, they often experience hypothermia, as the temperature of the liquid lowers their body temperature. By preventing IV-induced hypothermia, IV fluid warmers prevent the side effects of the malady, such as suppressed immune system function, cardiac arrest, and coagulation impairment. If an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) is considering implementing portable IV warmers, below are examples of conditions that the devices are helpful for treating.

Drug Overdose

Various types of illicit drugs and prescription drugs cause hypothermia when they are consumed in sufficient quantities. For example, overdosing on prescription tranquilizers, as in heroin use is known to cause hypothermia. Although chemically counteracting the effects of a drug overdose is typically the first order of treatment, helping the victim overcome hypothermia by administering heated IV fluids is an important form of treatment as well.

Over-consumption of Alcohol

Alcohol creates a feeling of warmth in the user by causing body heat to rise to the surface of the skin, but this process actually depletes body heat. When the drinker consumes enough alcohol, the user is impervious to cold temperatures. If he or she remains exposed to the cold, the action of the alcohol in his or her body may accelerate the progression of hypothermia, leading to nerve damage and potentially a coma. Administering an infusion with a paramedic IV kit that contains IV fluid warmers will help reverse the hypothermia.

Blood Loss

Blood loss is a common cause of hypothermia for many injury victims. As the blood loss progresses, the hypothermia also progresses, and vice versa. Hypothermia impairs the body's coagulation function by affecting platelet function, coagulation cascade, and fibrinolysis. An injury victim who experiences moderate to severe bleeding can enter a vicious cycle of hypothermia by increasing the blood loss, and the blood loss increasing hypothermia. Administering warm fluid while treating the wounds stops the cycle.

Exposure to Cold Temperatures

Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures is the most well known cause of primary hypothermia. In many cases, the malady results from the patient being involved in an accident that eliminates his or her mobility, and leaves him or her exposed to cold weather. If a person has reached a moderate or severe state of hypothermia due to temperature exposure, treating him or her with blankets and ingestible liquids may not be enough. The patient may need a warm IV infusion to reverse his or her condition. Otherwise, the patient could enter a hypothermic coma.

Conclusion

A paramedic IV kit that contains IV fluid warmers helps first responders treat a variety of medical conditions that have hypothermia as a side effect, particularly: drug overdose, over-consumption of alcohol, and blood loss. In addition to being dangerous in itself, hypothermia has dangerous side effects, including: impaired coagulation, cardiac arrest, and suppressed immune system function, the latter of which increases the likelihood of bacterial infection. To learn more about the benefits of using portable blood warmers for EMS work, contact a supplier of EMS IV equipment today.

How to Avoid Bed Sores

Bed sores, also known as pressure ulcers, are the painful condition that occurs when constant pressure is applied to soft tissue. They are most often the result of a patient being bedridden and unable to change positions of their own volition. Besides being extremely painful, bed sores can lead to many dangerous complications for sufferers, including osteomyelitis (a bone infection), sepsis (whole-body inflammation), anemia, and gangrene. Here is a brief guide on how you can help keep a bedridden patient from developing this extremely uncomfortable and dangerous condition.

Proper Nutrition

A critical but often forgotten aspect of keeping patients protected from bed sores is making sure that they receive adequate amounts of protein, calories, and vitamin C. Many studies have revealed that patients with a healthy diet and high levels of vitamin C are both less likely to develop bed sores and quicker to recover from them than those with deficiencies. Getting the right nutrients should be a given for all hospital patients, because proper nutrition is such an important factor for overall health. However, if a patient is found to be developing pressure ulcers frequently, their nutritional intake should be investigated and, if necessary, supplemented with vitamins.

Frequent Position Shifts

The most important step to take in avoiding the development or worsening of a bed sore is to frequently redistribute pressure by shifting and turning the patient's position at regular intervals. Since this idea was developed in the 1940s by British neurologist Ludwig Guttmann, the standard practice has been to administer these shifts every two hours. However, despite the revolutionary improvements this method has added to the hospital world, the two-hour rule might not be best for all patients, depending on their conditions. If possible, specific conditions and circumstances should be taken into account when determining how often a patient should be moved.

Fresh Linens

The easiest way to prevent pressure ulcers, and thus the least excusable to overlook, is to make sure that patients are resting on fresh linens. The best way to ensure that your linens are as fresh as possible is by recruiting a professional laundry service to take care of the job for you. Expertly washed sheets will have bedridden patients resting as easily and comfortably as possible, and you can rest assured that you have done your best to protect them. Though this should go without being stated, be sure that linens, once cleaned, are changed regularly and perhaps more often than usual for patients who are unable to change position on their own.

Kentucky Children's Hospital - Excellent Care for Kids

University of Kentucky Children's Hospital was created through the efforts of University of Kentucky physicians who were being trained and practiced there in order to meet the needs of children across the state. The hospital opened in August of 1997 and its name shortened to Kentucky Children's Hospital in 2005. Accommodation needs of the families of children being treated at the facility are met by a variety of pleasant hotels in Lexington, Ky.

Kentucky Children's Hospital is an academic medical center that provides pediatric care for children with illness or injuries which are life-threatening. The hospital contains over 70 specialists and sub-specialists and over 300 pediatric nurses, all of which are skilled in a variety of children's medical needs. Each year, over 6,000 patients are treated at Kentucky Children's Hospital.

Outreach clinics have been established across the area and are visited by physicians who offer both healthcare services and education for such needs as asthma, cardiology, neurology and diabetes. Outpatient and ambulatory services are provided by Polk-Dalton Clinic, Kentucky Clinic, and Kentucky Clinic South. Many patients are also treated at the Makenna David Pediatric Emergency Center which provides trauma and pediatric emergency care 24 hours a day. This center is also the only one in the state of Kentucky verified by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma as a Level I pediatric trauma center.

Some 60,000 children are administered care each year through this efficient network of Kentucky Children's Hospital clinics. Regardless of which facilities are utilized, visitors will find nearby hotels in Lexington, Ky at which to stay.

The dedicated and compassionate doctors, nurses and staff at Kentucky Children's Hospital work closely together to provide care for a wide array of injuries, illnesses, and diseases that plague children. The hospital contains 66 beds in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 58 of which are classified as Level III for severely ill newborns and 8 classified as Level II for newborns that require immediate care. The facility also contains 55 Acute Care beds, 12 Pediatric Intensive Care beds, eight beds for around the clock observation, and 26 normal nursery beds for newborns.

Besides treatment beds, Kentucky Children's Hospital also houses a Ronald McDonald room and three children playrooms containing a computer room and a library with books and movies where child patients, families and siblings can find entertainment 24 hours a day. There are also three consultation rooms and four sleeping rooms available for parents who have children in the intensive care unit. For parents of children not in intensive care, hotels in Lexington, Ky provide comfortable rooms from which to conveniently visit their children that have been admitted to Kentucky Children's Hospital.

Although injuries, illnesses and diseases are devastating when they occur to children, parents can find some comfort in knowing that the Kentucky Children's Hospital is well equipped with caring and highly skilled staff and the latest technology. It is also comforting to know that a large selection of hotels in Lexington KY, are available to meet the accommodation needs of those from a variety of financial situations.

Quadriplegia - What Is It Really?

Quadriplegia is referred as the condition in which a person suffers a four limb paralysis. This usually happens as a result of cervical injuries. Quadriplegia is also called Tetraplegia. Based on the severity of the injury, there are several levels defined in Quadriplegia. In levels C-4 and above, the person may require ventilators or electrical implants to breathe. This is because any damage to spinal nerves present in the upper level of the neck directly affects the diaphragm. Similarly, different levels determine dysfunction of various parts of the body. C-5 affects wrist or hand, C-6 hand function; C-7 may straighten arms but result in dexterity problems in hands and wrist.

There are many causes of Quadriplegia. A car accident or a mishap during a sport activity is the most common cause of neck injuries, hence often leading to Quadriplegia. A spinal disease like a tumor may also be one of the causes of quadriplegia. The lesions caused by any of the above affect the person's mobility of all limbs partially or completely.

Most common accidents resulting in trauma, hence Quadriplegia are auto accident, gunshot wound, and fall or sport injury. This may affect the person's lower extremities, upper extremities or the entire trunk from the neck down. Most common diseases which result in Quadriplegia are transverse myelitis, polio and spina bifida.

The first symptom of quadriplegia is loss of a person's movement after an accident or inactivity due to illness. Loss of sensation, loss of sensitivity to heat, cold and touch, loss of bowel and bladder control exaggerated reflex activities, uncontrollable hand movements and drooling are other few symptoms of quadriplegia. A spinal cord injury above the neck also results in inability to breathe without a respirator. Injuries below the neck affect limbs and other lower parts of the body.

Every patient of Quadriplegia needs to be treated differently based on his level and severity of condition. Patients may have a different nature of injury causing quadriplegia. The first area of treatment is the dysfunctional part of the body as a result of injury. Spinal cord treatment prevents and controls further damage to spinal cord, thereby bringing people back to normal life with certain disabilities. Conservative treatment of pressure sores are used in stages 1 and 2 of the injury. The treatment includes appropriate wound care, debridement of necrotic tissue, nutrition optimization, pressure release and Muscle spasticity minimization. This treatment gives the person an opportunity to heal with time and slowly retire to normal life.

EMS IV Kit Equipment: The Importance of Portable IV Warmers

Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature falls below 95°F. In many cases, the condition occurs gradually due to exposure to cold weather, but it can also occur almost instantaneously when a person receives a cold IV fluid infusion. According to research, in 2010, the majority of IV infusions that were delivered in hospitals and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) vehicles were delivered cold. When a hospital unit or an EMS IV kit does not contain a portable IV warmer, hospital patients and injury victims are likely to experience one of the following hypothermia related complications.

Hospital-Acquired Infections

In the immune system, hypothermia impairs neutrophil and microphage function, and increases the occurrence of hospital-acquired infections, particularly bacterial wound infections. Administering warm IV fluids during and after surgery helps prevent infection.

Cardiac Arrest

Hypothermia increases the risk of cardiac arrest by creating: systemic and pulmonary vasoconstriction, increasing arterial blood pressure, and increasing the risk of ventricular dysrhythmias and myocardial ischaema. Research has shown that giving warm IV infusions to hypothermic patients helps prevent postoperative cardiac arrest, which can occur due to the cooling effect that anesthesia has on the body.

Increased Oxygen Consumption

In the final stage of hypothermia, oxygen consumption slows due to organ failure, but in the initial stage, oxygen consumption increases due to shivering and tachycardia (accelerated heart beat). These responses occur automatically as the body attempts to generate heat. Tachycardia can be dangerous for those who have serious heart conditions, and intense shivering makes it difficult for a person to assist himself or herself by performing basic physical tasks.

Coma

When hypothermia progresses to the point of contracting surface blood vessels and decreasing the heart rate, the person may fall into a coma. The contraction of surface blood vessels occurs in moderate hypothermia; while decreased heart rate is a sign of severe hypothermia. If the patient remains in a severe state of hypothermia, he or she will lapse into a coma and die due to organ failure. An EMS IV kit that contains a portable IV warmer will help prevent this from happening by raising the core body temperature of the person via a warm IV fluid infusion.

Impaired Coagulation

Hypothermia impairs coagulation function by affecting platelet function, coagulation cascade, and fibrinolysis. Platelet function is impaired due to reduced levels of thromboxane B2 near the injury; coagulation cascade is reduced because the enzymes that are required for the cascade are temperature dependent; fibrinolysis is increased, which destabilizes the clot and causes increased bleeding. Because hypothermia is often thought to "slowing down" the body's functions, it is mistakenly thought to have a positive effect on coagulation, but the opposite is true. When injury victims bleed to death, primary or secondary hypothermia may be a contributing factor.

Conclusion

An EMS IV kit that contains an IV fluid infusion system for warming IV fluids helps prevent dangerous side-effects of hypothermia, including: hospital-acquired infections, cardiac arrest, increased oxygen consumption, coma, and impaired coagulation. For more information about preventing hypothermia with warm IV fluids, contact a supplier of IV warmers today.

Why A First Responder IV Kit Should Contain a Portable IV Warmer

A first responder IV kit should contain a portable IV fluid warmer that delivers warm IV infusions to injury victims. Although Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and hospitals commonly administer cold IV infusions, an infusion whose temperature is below 95°F often does more harm than good, as it predisposes the patient to hypothermia. If a hospital or an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) does not use IV warmers, below are four reasons to start using them as soon as possible.

Prevention of Hypothermia

Intravenous liquids that are below 95°F can lower core body temperature to below 95°F, and cause the onset of hypothermia. Unlike hypothermia that results from the prolonged exposure to the cold, IV-induced hypothermia may be present in a short period of time. Heating intravenous liquids before they are administered prevents IV-induced hypothermia. It may also resolve existing hypothermia, and prevent the hypothermia-related side effects listed below.

Deterrence of Hospital-Acquired Infections

Hospital-acquired infections occur under several circumstances. Because hypothermia compromises immune functions, it predisposes the patient to all types of hospital-acquired infections. In particular concern are bacterial infections that occur in surgical wounds. Anesthesia may cause core body temperature to drop and with the hypothermic effect of cold IV liquids added in, the patient has a high risk of wound infection. Administering heated IV liquids before, during, and after surgery helps reduce the occurrence of hospital-acquired infections.

Reduce the Risk of Cardiac Arrest

When a patient receives a cold infusion, their risk of experiencing cardiac arrest significantly increases. This is because the drop in core body temperature increases the risk for ventricular dysrhythmias and myocardial ischaema. By using the IV fluid warmer in a first responder IV kit, paramedics eliminate the possibility of cardiac arrest that results from IV-induced hypothermia.

Prevention of Coagulation Impairment

Coagulation impairment is one of the side effects of hypothermia. Hypothermia causes coagulation impairment by affecting platelet function, coagulation cascade, and fibrinolysis. When an injury victim is experiencing blood loss and hypothermia simultaneously, each condition increases the severity of the other.

Treating the wounds while administering heated IV liquids is the best way to resolve the dangerous condition.

Prevention of Coma

When a person experiences severe hypothermia, he or she is on the brink of entering a hypothermic coma, which is the final phase of hypothermia before death. Although heated IV infusions can reverse the course of severe hypothermia, the goal is to administer them before the patient experiences hypothermia, or while his or her hypothermia is only moderate. Using a warmer that is ready for use in less than two minutes allows paramedics to do this.

Conclusion

A first responder IV kit that contains an IV fluid warmer helps paramedics combat hypothermia, and prevents its dangerous side effects, such as hospital-acquired infections, cardiac arrest, impaired coagulation, and a coma. Hospitals and EMS crews traditionally deliver intravenous infusions whose liquid is below 95°F. However, as the dangers of administering cold IV infusions become well known, this trend is gradually changing. To learn more about portable IV warmers, contact a supplier of EMS IV products today.

Linens and Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

The word "superbug" is a very scary new concept. The bacteria we have fought long and hard against by developing antibiotic medications were kept down for quite a while. Unfortunately, it now seems that they are evolving more rapidly than ever. This means that the infections and diseases that were once quite simple to treat are now complicated. While there is hope for the development of new antibiotics to rise to the challenge of fighting these strains, for now the best possible line of defense is to prevent the spread of dangerous bacteria before infections can even occur. Most people seem to have accepted the concept of proper hand sanitization, and this continues to be very important practice. The newest way to protect yourself and everyone around you is equally important: an awareness of the dangers that improperly sanitized linens and clothes may pose in the spread of disease.

Remember That Cloth Carries Germs

That cloth can carry germs is an easy fact to forget. However, we must keep this potential danger in mind. A recent study has revealed that one of the most dangerous strains of the bacteria that can cause staph infections, called Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is causing infections that have been transferred significantly through making contact with clothing and linens. This potentially fatal infection is particularly risky in a hospital setting, where many patients will have immune systems that will certainly not be up to the task of protecting them. It is critical, then, that hospitals have their linens, and ideally all uniforms and clothing as well, professionally sanitized by a laundering service. Though other precautions, like hand washing and sanitary bathroom conditions, are still very important, knowledge of these precautions is already very widespread. Most people know to keep their hands clean, especially after touching doorknobs and items in bathrooms. It is so easy to forget, however, that we spend a lot of time touching our own clothing, and patients their sheets, because these are not materials society has yet widely accepted as possible contamination carriers.

New Textile Technologies

Fortunately, in response to these increasingly antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, textile technology is improving. New materials are being made available that help to fight against the spread of infection. One of the main features of these super-linens is to be fluid-resistant. This means that fluids will be for the most part repelled away from the fabrics, which ideally will also repel the vast majority of the bacteria that they may contain. With rigorous laundering methods, along with the use of newly available fabrics, hospitals and other facilities with a high patient turnover should be taking every precaution necessary to prevent the spread of dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Paramedic IV Equipment: Choosing the Best Portable IV Warmer

A portable IV warming system is an important piece of paramedic IV equipment. Without the system, paramedics would administer cold infusions - a practice that induces hypothermia and worsens existing hypothermia. When an infusion causes hypothermia, it also increases the patient's chance of experiencing a host of side effects that result from the malady, some of which are life threatening: increased risk of cardiac arrest, impaired immune system function, and impaired coagulation are all associated with hypothermia. Administering heated infusions helps prevent these side effects.

Choosing the Best Warmer

Different IV warmers have specific characteristics that affect their performance, and make them more or less accommodating to the needs of paramedics. When shopping for the right model, consider the following criteria before making a purchase.

Set Up and Heat Up Times

Some models take as long as 12 minutes to set up and heat up. In many cases, critically injured patients simply cannot wait this long before they receive an infusion. Therefore, the goal should be to find a model that is ready to use in the shortest amount of time. Currently, the most efficient model can be set up and heated up in one minute and 15 seconds.

Weight With the Battery Attached

The heaviest warmers weigh over ten pounds with the battery attached - a weight that makes it more difficult for paramedics to move across challenging terrain. Ideally, paramedic IV equipment should be light enough for a first responder to carry it on his or her person. Weighing less than two pounds with the battery attached, the lightest portable IV warming system is quite portable, and can be attached to one's person using a carabineer clip.

Tubing

IVwarmers use one of two types of tubing: standard or proprietary. Standard tubing is available from any supplier of IV equipment, whereas proprietary tubing must be purchased from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Consequently, proprietary tubing costs more than standard tubing. In most cases, the former does not offer a special benefit, which makes buying a device that uses standard tubing the most economical choice.

Method of Temperature Measurement

It is important to note how the temperature of the liquid is measured. The most common methods of temperature measurement are:

Measuring the temperature of the heating plates that heat the liquid

Measuring the temperature of the circulating water that heats the liquid

Measuring the temperature of the fluid with a temperature sensor

As one would expect, directly measuring the temperature of the liquid is the most reliable method of temperature measurement, and the only method that ensures the liquid is 95°F or above.

Flow Rate

The flow rate of a warmer should accommodate all types of infusions. Choosing a model that has a flow rate of 2-150 ml/min is the best option.

Conclusion

A portable IV fluid warming system helps paramedics combat hypothermia in injury victims. By preventing hypothermia, paramedics help prevent hypothermia-related maladies such as: cardiac arrest, impaired immune system function, and impaired coagulation. To learn more about portable IV warmers, contact a supplier of paramedic IV equipment.

Helpful Tips When Choosing an EMS Fluid Warmer

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.

Choosing a Paramedic Blood Warmer: Frequently Asked Questions

A paramedic blood warmer allows paramedics to deliver a warm IV fluid infusion to injury victims - a measure that helps prevent hypothermia and its dangerous side effects, such as cardiac arrest, impaired immune systems, and impaired coagulation. If an EMS service is considering implementing portable IV warmers in its paramedic IV kits, and there are questions about which type of warmer to choose, the answer below will help.

How long should it take the warmer to be ready for service?

The device should be ready to use in less than two minutes. The most efficient model has a set up time of 30 seconds, and a warm up time of 45 seconds. In comparison, other models take over ten minutes to be ready for service - a period of time that is too long for patients who need emergency infusions.

How much should the warmer weigh?

The real question is how much should the device with the battery attached weigh? The weight of some models more than doubles when the battery is attached; while other warmers remain relatively light after the battery is added. Ideally, the device should weigh less than two pounds with the battery connected. Models that weigh more than this may make it harder for EMS crews to move over difficult terrain.

What type of tubing should the warmer use?

A paramedic blood warmer should ideally use standard tubing instead of proprietary tubing, because of its three disadvantages. It is more expensive than standard tubing; it must be ordered from the manufacturer, and it rarely offers a benefit to the IV fluid infusion process.

What method of temperature measurement should the warmer use?

The device should measure the temperature of the liquid directly. Placing a temperature sensor in the fluid path is the best way to do this. Some warmers use indirect methods of temperature measurement, such as measuring the temperature of warming plates or circulating water. These methods do not ensure that the liquid is the right temperature.

What are the benefits of a disposable model?

A disposable model has at least three benefits: it does not require sterilization or maintenance; it eliminates the possibility of acquired infections due to improper sterilization, and it prevents field crews from lugging around equipment that must be sterilized before it is used again. A patient can use the same disposable warmer throughout his or her hospital stay.

What flow rate should the warmer Have?

The device should have a flow rate of 2-150 ml/min to accommodate various types of infusions. Models that have a narrower flow rate may be inappropriate for certain types of infusions.

Conclusion

A paramedic blood warmer allows paramedics to deliver a heated IV fluid infusion that helps prevent hypothermia and its side effects, such as cardiac arrest, impaired immune systems, and impaired coagulation. If an EMS service needs information about IV warmers, reading the answers above is a good place to start. For additional information about the devices, contact a supplier of EMS IV equipment today.