How to Use Bair Infant Warmers

Hypothermia, or dropping body temperature, is common in infants in hospitals. Anesthesia, frigid operating rooms and the administration of cold intravenous fluids all contribute to a lower body temperature. Aside from making patients uncomfortable, hypothermia is dangerous if left untreated and can cause cardiac dysfunction, blood-clotting trouble and a suppressed immune system. If a newborn's temperature falls below normal, the Bair Hugger forced-heat blanket system can bring a baby's temperature back to a safer level.

Instructions

Attaching the Warming Unit Hose

• 1

  Find the end of the Bair Hugger hose with the flange, or attachment lip, on it.

• 2

  Insert the flange end at a 45-degree angle into the groove of the blower outlet on the warming unit. Find the blower outlet on the machine's left side, toward its top.

• 3

  Snap the hose into place, pushing the flange gently into the blower outlet's groove until you hear the connection and release tab on the blower outlet click.

Using the Warmer

• 4

  Place the Bair Hugger blanket over the patient. The perforated side of the blanket, or the side with small holes, should rest against the patient's skin.

• 5

  Twist the unattached end of the warming unit's hose into the port on the top side of the blanket. Find the port at the blanket's midpoint. Turn the hose into the port until it fits tightly into the port.

• 6

  Plug the warming unit into a grounded electrical outlet.

• 7

  Press the warming unit's on-off button, located on the control panel on its front, to turn the machine on.

• 8

  Select the proper temperature setting by pushing the "Temp Select" button, which is also marked with a thermometer icon. Choose from the four options, which include "Ambient" for room-temperature air, as well as settings for 32 degrees C, 38 degrees C and 43 degrees C.

• 9

  Place a cotton blanket over the Bair Hugger infant warmer for maximum effectiveness.

• 10

  Check the patient's temperature at least every one to 20 minutes, and adjust the temperature setting on the control panel as needed.

Mounting the Warming Unit

• 11

  Find the Bair Hugger warming unit's attachment clamp on the back of the machine, about one-third down from the top.

• 12

  Place the clamp around the IV pole and turn the clamp's handle clockwise to tighten it.

• 13

  Find the Bair Hugger warming unit's two hanging hooks on the back of the machine, at its top.

• 14

  Hang the hooks over the patient's bedrail.

• 15

  Loop the warming unit's safety strap, located on the upper right rear corner, over the bedrail and lock it into place for added hanging security.