Which practice best supports maintaining normothermia in burn resuscitation?

• A. Warming blankets, warmed humidified oxygen, and warmed IV fluids
• B. Only room temperature fluids
• C. Cooling the patient with ice
• D. Unheated air

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is actively preventing hypothermia during burn resuscitation. Burn patients lose heat easily through exposed skin, high ambient exposure, and the large volumes of IV fluids given during resuscitation. Keeping the body warm helps preserve metabolic function, improves coagulation, and reduces infection risk, all of which support better outcomes.

Using warming blankets, warmed humidified oxygen, and warmed IV fluids directly combats heat loss from multiple routes: external heat loss through the skin, inhaled air cooling, and cold IV solutions lowering core temperature. This combination is the most effective way to maintain normothermia.

In contrast, room temperature fluids, cooling the patient with ice, or unheated air all promote heat loss and can drive temperature downward, undermining resuscitation and recovery.