An EMS IV kit contains fire and EMS supplies that help paramedics administer IV infusions, but a portable IV warmer is often not one of the supplies. In many cases, the omission of a portable IV warmer from an IV kit complicates the treatment of hypothermia. When infusions are delivered cold, hypothermia worsens. Cold infusions can cause hypothermia by lowering the body temperature to under 95°F. IV warmers help prevent hypothermia by warming liquids to a temperature in the range of 95 - 100°F before the patient receives it.
Complications of Hypothermia
Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature falls below 95°F. Below this temperature, the effects of hypothermia may be barely noticeable, but as the body temperature drops further, extreme shivering and unconsciousness can occur. The patient is also at an increased risk for cardiac arrest and hospital-acquired infections, because hypothermia diminishes the effectiveness of the vascular system, and decreases the strength of the immune system. Cardiac arrest often occurs after the patient receives a cold IV infusion, and hospital-acquired infections that result from hypothermia commonly arise after surgery.
Due to the complications that hypothermia brings to surgery, resolving hypothermia is best done before the patient reaches the hospital. However, many EMS services do not include a portable warmer among the fire and EMS supplies in an EMS IV kit. In 2010, almost none of the 4 million IV infusions delivered by EMS crews were administered with an IV warmer. Furthermore, only four percent of the 45 million infusions that were delivered in hospitals in 2010 were administered with a warmer. This exposes injury victims who receive infusions to serious health risks that could be prevented by using a portable warmer.
Choosing the Right Warmer
Not all IV warmers are created equally, particularly when it comes to emergency care. Below are eight considerations that hospitals and emergency services should make before they purchase a portable warmer:
Temperature Control - The device should have a sensor in the fluid path that measures the temperature of the fluid.
Set Up Time - The device should have a setup time of less than 30 seconds.
Warm Up Time - The device should have a warm up time of less than 45 seconds.
Tubing - The device should use standard tubing instead of proprietary tubing.
Weight - The device should ideally weigh less than two pounds with the battery attached.
Flow rate - The device should have a flow rate of 2-150 ml/min
A warmer that has these characteristics helps ensure that infusions are delivered quickly and at the correct temperature. They also save the user money by not requiring standard tubing, and have a lightweight design that makes them easy to transport in ambulances.
Conclusion
An EMS IV kit should contain a portable IV warmer among its fire and EMS supplies. Without a warmer at their disposal, paramedics have difficultly treating hypothermia; and they may cause hypothermia by administering cold infusions. To learn more about the benefits of portable IV warmers for hospital care and emergency care, contact a seller of EMS products today.