From: Equipment to prevent, diagnose, and treat hypothermia: a survey of Norwegian pre-hospital services
Ground ambulance services (AS) | Fixed wing (FW) (n = 9) | Helicopter emergency medical service(HEMS) | National search and rescue service (SAR) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Total 512 | Total 9 | Total 12 | Total 10 | |
n and (%) | n and (%) | n and (%) | n and (%) | |
Insulation material available | ||||
Space blankets | 151 (29) | 5 (56) | 8 (67) | 0 |
Hospital duvets | 468 (91) | 9 (100) | 11 (92) | 10 (100) |
Cotton blankets | 436 (85) | 7 (78) | 7 (58) | 2 (20) |
Plastic “bubble wrap” | 428 (84) | 0 | 12 (100) | 10 (100) |
Wool blankets | 154 (30) | 9 (100) | 2 (17) | 9 (90) |
Sleeping bags | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Shelter bags (not insulated) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Insulated shelter bags | 0 | 0 | 2 (17) | 10 (100) |
Separate head cover | 220 (43) | 0 | 7 (58) | 10 (100) |
Body bags | 512 (100) | 0 | 0 | 10 (100) |
Plastic covers | 0 | 1 (11) | 0 | 0 |
Othera | 148 (29) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Active warming equipment | 72 (14) | 4 (44) | 7 (58) | 7 (70) |
Chemical heat pads | 57 (11) | 4 (44) | 7 (58) | 5 (50) |
Water bottles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 (50) |
Electrical heating blankets | 0 | 0 | 4 (33) | 0 |
Forced air warmer | 0 | 0 | 2 (17) | 0 |
Warm i.v. fluid protocol | 15 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Treatment protocols | 373 (73) | 2 (22) | 5 (42) | 7 (70) |
Hypothermia thermometers | ||||
Yes | 61 (12) | 7 (100) | 12 (100) | 10 (100) |
Not sure | 123 (24) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
For rectal use | 61 (100)b | 7 (100) | 12 (100) | 8 (80) |
For oesophageal use | 0 | 7 (100) | 12 (100) | 8 (80) |
For tympanic use | 46 (75)b | 0 | 0 | 2 (20) |
For oral use | 0 (0)b | 1 (11) | 0 | 0 |
For axillary use | 0 (0)b | 3 (33) | 0 | 0 |
Otherd | 0 | 4 (44) | 0 | 3 (30) |
Hot i.v. fluids | 468 (91) | 1 (11) | 11 (92)c | 10 (100) |
Infusion heaters | 15 (3) | 0 | 2 (17) | 2 (20) |