6. Guidelines for the safe use of warming cabinets include all except
__________ .
a. store only dry cotton blankets
b. load blankets according to manufacturers' recommendations
c. monitor the warming cabinet equipment according to organizational policy
d. limit blanket warmer cabinets' use to blankets and moist packs
Answer: d
All warming units have alarms that alert staff if the in-cabinet temper-
ature differs from the set temperature. Load blankets according to the
warming cabinet manufacturer's directions for use. To ensure blan-
kets are warmed safely and effectively, make sure the cabinet you use
has enough space to hold the maximum amount of blankets you store
at once — or don't overload the cabinet — to ensure enough space
remains around the stack to allow adequate airflow around the cham-
ber. Also load blankets well before they're needed, so they have plen-
ty of time to reach the desired temperature.
7. Warmed cotton blankets are effective as a
single intervention to treat unplanned hypothermia.
a. true b. false
Answer: b
Research presented as a poster at the 2011 AORN Congress involved
30 patients who underwent outpatient open colorectal surgery. The
patients had active warming applied 15 minutes before heading to the
OR, during surgery and in PACU (osmag.net/SAX4ss). The research, per-
formed by surgical nurses at the University of Maryland Medical
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