Blanket Warmer – Understanding their Value in a Hospital or Medical Environment
- Also known as a Warmer, Warming Cabinet, Combination Blanket and Solution Warmer
- Warms Blankets, linens, and hi welcomesurgical irrigation fluids to improve clinical out comes
- Many Sizes, countertop to large double compartment and Pass Through Warmers
- Reduces Hypothermia and Surgical Site Infections (SSI) and Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs)
- Found in Operating Rooms, Chemotherapy, Cath Lab, PACU, Imaging, Endo etc.
- Manufactured in Stainless Steel for Infection Control
- Patients Love the Comfort of a Warm Blanket
What is a Medical Blanket Warmer?
BLANKET WARMER, WARMING CABINET, BLANKET AND SOLUTION WARMER?
The same stainless steel equipment can be referred to by “blanket warmer”, “warming cabinet” , “Combination Blanket and Solution warmer”.”Fluid Warmer ” Medical Warmer, hospital warming cabinet, blanket / solution warming cabinet, and blanket warming cabinet. This is just a matter of preference, referring to the same type of hospital grade medical equipment.
When described as a Blanket / Solution Warmer, the unit or separate compartments can be used to separately warm both blankets and solutions used in a medical facility. Irrigation Fluids should not be warmed in the same chamber as blankets.
Medical Importance of Blanket Warmers
Passive warming with blankets can only reduce patient heat loss as metabolic processes help the patient to warm from within.
In medical procedure rooms and surgical suites, maintaining optimal temperatures is crucial for patient well-being, especially considering potential factors such as anxiety and extended preoperative waiting times. These conditions can impact patients adversely, underscoring the importance of safeguarding their normal body temperature. One effective approach to address this concern involves utilizing a warmer to provide comfortably warmed linens and irrigation fluids. By ensuring that patients are enveloped in warmth during all stages of the procedure, hospitals can proactively mitigate the risk of hypothermia, a key contributor to complications such as surgical site infections (SSIs), extended hospital stays, increased costs, and potential cardiac and coagulation challenges.
GUIDELINES & PROCEDURES FOR WARMING CABINET SAFETY
Optimal Use of Warming Equipment Adhering to established guidelines and procedures while utilizing hospital warming cabinets is a fundamental aspect of ensuring patient safety and regulatory compliance. These guidelines encompass various aspects, including temperature ranges, warming duration, and storage protocols. It’s worth noting that specific recommendations may vary based on the manufacturer of these equipment in use. Additionally, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) offers valuable insights into recommended practices for utilization, such as:
- Properly labeling fluids and solutions with clear expiration dates for timely removal from the warmer.
- Utilizing technology specifically designed for warming IV fluids to ensure their safe and effective use.
- Implementing a first-in, first-out rotation system for solutions to maintain freshness and effectiveness.
- Regularly monitoring hospital warmer temperatures as per organizational policies, documenting these checks on temperature logs, records, or electronic systems
MANY SIZES, COUNTERTOP TO LARGE DOUBLE COMPARTMENT AND PASS THROUGH WARMERS
Warming Cabinets come in sizes to fit all clinical spaces and layouts. The most popular, two compartment Warmers are most often utilized in Operating Rooms, Operating Theaters, Pre-op, PACU, ICU, ED, Veterinary clinics. Independently heated and controlled, these Dual Chamber Warming Cabinets can store linens or blankets in one chamber and solutions in the other. Each compartment can be programed and monitored to the optimal temperature required. Full Height (72″) single compartment warmers are utilized in high volume clinical areas like Emergency Rooms where a high volume of warm blankets are necessary. Mid-size one compartment units meet the need of moderate volume, such as chemotherapy , Cath Labs and Endo. Countertop units (30″ wide x 26″ H) and mini space saving units ( 18″ wide) are available for lower volume clinical, imaging and procedure areas with space limitations. Castors on these small single compartment units provide the ability to store these units under a table or desk. Pass Through Warming Cabinets installed within the wall between the Sterile core and the operating room, provide easy restocking without entering or exiting the OR or ASC.
Recommended Blanket Warmer Temperatures: Ensuring Patient Safety
When it comes to setting the temperature for a blanket warmer, it’s essential to prioritize patient safety and adhere to industry guidance. While specific national medical warming cabinet temperature guidelines might not be universally established, valuable insights are available to help healthcare facilities make informed decisions.
In October 2020, the ECRI Institute released a significant guidance article that shed light on the optimal blanket warming temperatures. According to their recommendations, it’s advisable to set the blanket warming temperature at a maximum of 54.44°C (130°F). This cautious approach aims to minimize the risk of potential patient injury while ensuring that warmed blankets contribute to patient comfort without compromising well-being.
Moreover, the ECRI Institute emphasized a crucial point: Intravenous (IV) fluids should never be warmed in the same cabinet as blankets. To uphold patient safety, the suggested temperature for irrigation fluids within a warming should not exceed 43°C (110°F). By segregating the warming process and maintaining separate compartments, healthcare facilities can prioritize the distinct requirements of each item while optimizing patient care.
In this regard, the integration of dual compartment warmers proves invaluable. These innovative solutions offer independent temperature controls for each compartment, enabling healthcare providers to precisely adhere to the recommended temperature thresholds. With dual compartment warmers, hospitals can effectively elevate patient comfort through the warming of both blankets and irrigations fluids simultaneously, all while upholding the highest standards of safety and care.
Warms Blankets, linens, and surgical irrigation fluids
Warming Cabinets utilize a microprocessor to control set point temperatures in separately controlled compartments warming blankets , linens, irrigation fluids ( 0.9% sodium chloride and lactated Ringer’s solutions)and IV bags. These contribute to a lower incidence of Hypothermia.
Reduces Hypothermia and Surgical Site Infections (SSI) and Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs)
Continental Metal Products understands how vital this equipment is for your hospital or ambulatory surgery center. CMP guarantees our product with a two-year labor and six-year parts warranty.
Check out our state-of -the-art Touchscreen Controlled Warming Cabinets on our webpage, or give us a call at 781-935-4400 and see if we meet your specifications.
WARMING CABINET AVAILABILITY
It is vital that Blanket and Solution Warming Cabinets are available for both new construction and replacement needs. It is important to contact a manufacturer that can meet your immediate requirements. Continental Metal Products recognizes Hospital, Ambulatory Surgery Center ( ASC), Nursing Home and Infusion Center needs. CMP’s most popular double compartment , single compartment, counter top and midsize warmers are always IN STOCK, for immediate shipment and delivery,
Contact CMP for IN STOCK Warming Cabinets
