Warmth may be appropriate, but what must be considered before applying warmth?

• A. Temperature of the room only
• B. Burn risk
• C. Blood glucose level only
• D. Patient preference only

Answer: (B)

Warming is used to prevent hypothermia in trauma patients, which can worsen bleeding and coagulopathy. But before applying warmth, you must assess for burn risk. Damaged, edematous, or poorly perfused skin, and areas with reduced sensation or in an unconscious patient, are more likely to suffer thermal injury from warming devices. External heat sources can cause burns if not monitored or used with appropriate control. So the safest approach is to check skin integrity, sensation, and perfusion, choose a safe warming method (such as a low, controlled heat source or a forced-air blanket with temperature control), and continually monitor the skin and patient comfort. Temperature of the room or patient’s blood glucose level are not the immediate safety issues when it comes to applying warmth; patient safety hinges on avoiding burns.