Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Science Communicator Platform

Stay connected! Follow us on X network (Twitter):
Share this content! On (X network) By
Efficacy of Rescue Blanket Versus Conventional Blanket in Terms of Preventing Accidental Hypothermia During Patient Transfer by Emergency Medical Service: A Randomized Clinical Trial Publisher



Saberian P1, 2 ; Sadeghi M3 ; Hasanisharamin P4 ; Modaber M4 ; Farhoud A5 ; Aghili M1, 6
Authors
Show Affiliations
Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Prehospital and Hospital Emergency Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Anesthesiology, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Anesthesiology, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Tehran Emergency Medical Service Center, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Reconstruction Research Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Emergency Medicine, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Journal of Emergency Practice and Trauma Published:2020


Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of rescue blankets with conventional blankets in terms of preventing hypothermia in the pre-hospital setting. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, patients older than 18 years old with Cold Discomfort Scale (CDS) > 2, and those who were transferred to the emergency department (ED) by emergency medical service entered the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups based on the type of transfer. In this regard, one group was transferred with rescue blankets and the other group was transferred with conventional blankets. The tympanic temperature in patients and CDS were recorded before the use of blanket (primary) and at the time of arrival in the ED (secondary). Results: Finally, 161 patients with the mean age of 45.31±19.8 years were included (63.4% were male). Totally, 88 cases (54.7%) were transferred with rescue blankets and 73 cases (45.3%) with conventional blankets. The mean of the primary tympanic temperatures in the rescue and conventional blanket groups were 36.20±0.84°C and 36.34±0.65°C, respectively (P = 0.23). The mean of the primary CDS in rescue and conventional blanket groups were 6.55±1.95 and 5.89±2.29, respectively (P = 0.05). Also, the mean of the secondary tympanic temperatures in the rescue and conventional blanket groups were 36.59±0.47°C and 36.76±0.48 °C, respectively (P = 0.03). Besides, the mean of the secondary CDS in the rescue and conventional blanket groups were 2.64±2.80 and 2.41±1.29, respectively (P = 0.48). Conclusion: According to the results, there is no significant difference in the tympanic temperature and CDS of the patients transferred with the rescue blanket compared with the conventional blanket. © 2020 The Author(s).