Fluid heating devices are an essential item for pairing with an EMT IV kit because they provide significant treatment benefits in field environments. The substances delivered to a patient must remain chilled while stored, but pose danger to an individual if administered at this temperature quickly. Hypothermia is a condition often associated with a person falling into ice water or from exposure to extreme cold weather for an extended period; however, these scenarios are not the only cause for this devastating bodily condition. Delivering cold fluids directly into the blood stream intravenously also creates a risk for the development of this condition. A large volume given quickly causes the internal body heat of an individual to suddenly lower to a hypothermic state. Devices designed to warm fluids before entry decrease this risk and provide more comfort to the treated individual. Design alterations have made intravenous (IV) heating devices an easy item to use with an EMT kit in the field.
The EMT Kit: Why is the Ability to Heat Fluids Imperative to Field Professionals?
An EMT kit holds numerous items to aid in the initial treatment of a patient in the field or during transport. A typical kit consists of the following:
IV(Intravenous) gear
Airway items
Assessment tools
Protocol guides
Required forms
Medications
First aid tools
Previous warming products could not be moved to different rooms or applied in areas where power was not present. Manufacturers now offer a portable, battery operated design that is lightweight enough to be carried on a medical technician and small enough to be stored on any type of first response vehicle. They pair up perfectly with the items a professional must carry in their EMT IV kit. Portable models use the combination of dry heat and sensors to provide consistent results as flow rates change or stopped. Liquid or water bath models, a previously common choice, created a high risk of infection due to improper cleaning and fluid mixing. Disposable designs do not have to be cleaned, are operational in any environment, and allow for quick setup when time is extremely limited.
An EMT kit holds the items necessary to start an IV; however, it does not provide the additional safety of a warming device. Many professionals in the field have been left with no choice but to inject cold plasma. Newer designs provide the convenience medical response teams or treatment centers need to deliver safer care. It is difficult to counteract hypothermia once it develops and a warmer is the first line of defense against this condition. This secondary condition must be treated before the original problem can be alleviated. Failure to use a heating device for IV applications not only causes hypothermia, but also decreases a person's chance of survival when a severe condition must be remedied. Individuals not receiving warming with IV administration have a lowered chance of recovery. These factors have caused portable warming equipment to be stored within response vehicles to be used in conjunction with an EMT IV kit. These same advancements have made heating a viable choice for military combat environments, government agencies, and specialty doctors.