Only recently have Emergency Medical Service (EMS) crews started to use portable IV warmers to treat injury victims. IV warmers have been around for decades, but for most of their existence, they required an electrical outlet to function. Battery power was not an option. Today, a paramedic blood warmer that uses batteries can be purchased from a supplier of EMS products, but some EMS crews remain unaware of the benefits the devices offer, or how they work. Before they invest in portable IV warmers, EMS services frequently ask the following questions.
How long can the devices be used?
When they are used with the Ultra Battery 1, the battery life of the devices is several hours. As long as the spent battery is replaced with a fresh one, the devices can be indefinitely used for the same patients.
Do the devices require sterilization?
Because the devices are disposable, they do not require sterilization. In addition to eliminating the cost of sterilization, disposable IV warmers also eliminate the possibility of infection due to improper sterilization.
Do the devices use proprietary tubing or normal tubing?
Some suppliers of EMS products sell models that use proprietary IV tubing, while others sell models that use standard tubing. In most cases, the difference between standard tubing and proprietary tubing is negligible. However, the latter typically costs more than the former.
How long does it take to set up and heat the devices?
Different models take different lengths of time to heat up and set up. The most efficient model has a setup time and warming time of thirty seconds and forty-five seconds, respectively. A paramedic blood warmer that takes longer than two minutes to heat up and set up is not recommended for performing emergency IV infusions on injury victims.
How do the devices benefit patients?
The devices benefit patients by preventing hypothermia that results from cold infusions, and alleviating hypothermia that is caused by conditions such as:
Alcohol overdose
Drug overdose
Shock
Weather exposure
In addition to jeopardizing the health of injury victims, administering cold IV fluids also complicates treating injury victims when they arrive in the hospital, particularly if they require surgery. Because anesthesia commonly causes body temperature to drop, having a stable core body temperature of 95°F - 100°F is important for surgery patients.
How do the devices benefit EMS crews?
The devices allow EMS crews to treat hypothermia, a malady that has traditionally been untreatable outside of clinical settings. Statistics also indicate that using the devices for emergency transfusions gives injury victims a better chance of survival. In one study, injury victims who received a warm transfusion were significantly less likely to experience cardiac arrest than injury victims who received a cold transfusion.
Conclusion
A portable paramedic blood warmer helps paramedics treat injury victims who suffer from fluid loss and hypothermia. However, many EMS units have yet to include the devices in paramedic IV kits. To learn more about the benefits and operation of portable IV warmers, contact a supplier of EMS products today.