A trauma center at a Dallas hospital reduced average times that patients suffered lower body temperatures by using the 3M™ Bair Hugger™ warming system more frequently. This story details improvements at Parkland Memorial Hospital, which trained its trauma staff to use the warming system more frequently. Abnormal body temperature is an independent predictor of death in trauma. While patient warming systems are used widely in emergency rooms, they are not standard in most trauma centers. Said Dr. Frank Zhao: “There’s no reason that we shouldn’t recommend this be part of the rewarming protocol in every trauma center.’’
