prevention
Last reviewed 01/2018
Prevention of early neonatal hypothermia is by rapid drying, wrapping, and performing any resuscitation under a warmer.
In premature or sick infants heat losses are prevented as follows:
- evaporative loss may be reduced by applying oil
- conductive losses can be reduced with insulated or heatd matresses
- convective losses should be monitored in convective incubators
- radiant heat loss is reduced with bubble foam sheets and by keeping the room temperature - outside the incubator - fairly high
Term infants simply need to be properly clothed and kept in a draught free cot.