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Joint Commission Blanket Warmer Standards

Warming blankets are critical tools to help patients maintain body temperature and avoid life-threatening hypothermia. Medical professionals should monitor the temperature of the blanket and be careful not to set the thermostat too high to avoid burning the patient.

  1. The Facts

    • The Joint Commission, which accredits and certifies U.S. healthcare organizations and programs, does not regulate the temperature settings for blanket warming cabinets. However the Commission does set guidelines for the safe operation of the medical devices, according to nurse Lorna R. House, a member of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses. The Joint Commission standards EC 6.10 and 6.20 require medical facilities to have written plans detailing the care of medical equipment, House states in a white paper.

    Considerations

    • Medical consultant MCN Healthcare recommends maintaining a log of the temperature of the blanket warmers to demonstrate the hospital or other medical facility is properly operating the device.

    Warning

    • The Emergency Care Research Institute cautions blanket warmers be restricted to a maximum temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. This limits the risk of injury to patients, according to House. This recommendation was issued in July 2009.

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