In the field, medical professionals cannot afford to be without a fluid warmer. These devices are necessary to prevent hypothermia in patients who have suffered some sort of trauma. When an individual is subjected to cold temperatures or cold weather for an extended period of time, his or her core body temperature can fall below biologic homeostasis and trigger severe side effects. Another cause of hypothermia is the administration of blood or IV fluids that are a lower temperature than the patient's core body temperature. Without a device like a paramedic blood warmer, a patient that is already suffering one affliction could start suffering hypothermia once he or she receives the fluids.
Now that one understands why a fluid warmer needs to be included in pre-hospital kits used by first responders and paramedics, one should not fall into the trap of thinking that all devices are created equally. This article will compare and contrast the different components of a fluid warmer so that one can decide what kind of device best fits his or her needs.
Power source
Heating devices like a paramedic blood warmer have two methods of powering themselves, which are:
A plug: Fluid warmer devices that need to be plugged in to a power source are great for hospitals and facilities because they eliminate the cost of batteries.
Batteries: These devices are best for field use, locations like military battlefields, because they are easily transportable and can be used anywhere since a plug is not required.
Temperature Regulation
The medical professional administering the fluid must wait until the fluid is warmed to a temperature in the 104-108 degrees Fahrenheit range. Administering the fluid before the fluid warmer brings the fluid to this range increases the risk of hypothermia. The two methods the devices use to regulate temperatures are:
Measuring the heating source: This is the way most devices measure the temperature, but this method is risky because the liquid usually takes longer to heat than the heating source.
Sensor in fluid path: This is the only method that actually measures the temperature of the liquid, which provides a more accurate reading and minimizes the risk of hypothermia.
Disposability
This term refers to whether or not a device is single-use or reusable. The benefits of each are:
Single-use: These fluid warmers can travel with a patient and be used whenever that specific patient needs more fluids. Since the individual device is not used by anyone else, the risk of contamination is gone.
Multi-use: These devices can be re-used, which offers savings in cost but increases the risk of contamination. These devices are impractical in the field because it is much easier to dispose of a paramedic blood warmer or other device once it has been used, rather than having to save it for another use.
These are just a few of the differences between different fluid warmer device features. To learn more about differentiating between various products, reach out to a trusted medical technologies supplier.