Bair Hugger and Safety Belt

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Hello. I'm new to the OR and have heard different opinions on this. Does the safety belt go ON TOP of or BELOW the Bair hugger? If it's below, it could heat up the metal to burn the patient (but there are blankets on top of the patient...) but if it's above does it impede the air flow? I need clarification and tried to research this to no avail.

We always teach that the belt goes below the Bair Hugger. There are two reasons for this.

1) Belting over the Bair Hugger will disrupt the air flow to the blanket channels

2) The belt tends to slip on the plastic of the hugger if the OR table is tilted.

However, your comment regarding the buckle has merit, and the solution to this is to place the buckle on the side of the bed, rather than onto of the patient. Even more importantly, a foam positioning pad or a folded blanket should be placed between the patient and the belt always, so the buckle will not come in contact with the skin, leading to potential burns from the electric cautery.

In 10 or more years of using the Bair Hugger I have never had a buckle heat up to such a degree as to burn the patient, so it is a very safe and essential piece of equipment. The manufacturer recommendations on application and use of the Bair Hugger can be viewed on the 3M website at 3M Bair Hugger Normothermia Education | 3M Medical | 3M United States

SQueenRN, BSN

115 Posts

Specializes in Operating Room.

THANK YOU!

Editorial Team / Admin

Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN

6 Articles; 11,658 Posts

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Another option would be to move from safety straps with buckles, which makes me think they are reusable, to a disposable velcro option. We use a fully disposable OR table setup- sheet, draw sheet, armboard covers, head cradle cover, safety strap, foam padding.

birdie22

231 Posts

We use both reusable metal safety belts and the velco one - circulator preference. There are pro and cons to both. Ive never seen a burn or other issue bc of the metal one. Regardless, i usually put the strap below the warmer.

LAM2010, BSN

127 Posts

Specializes in O.R. Nursing - ENT, CTC, Vasc..

You know, we always have this debate where I work, and I've been putting the belt under the Bair blanket and then I just keep my eye on the Bair blanket to see if it's slipping (it never does). We do have metal belt clips, and I've never felt one get hot. -- However, last week I noticed that when the belt was placed over the Bair blanket (directly on it), all the channels were filled with the warm air, above and below where the belt was. The belt did not appear to be impeding that air flow.

ggoodman

96 Posts

Specializes in OR, Trauma, OH, Vasc., Ortho, Gen.

in the heart room there is no safety belt and we use an under body bear huger. for other room belt goes on over a blanket or something to protect the patients skin, then the bear hugger.

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