Fever vs. Warm Blanket

[nursebrandie28]

Hello my fellow trauma friends,

This is just a question....how many of you give warm blankets to patients with a fever?

Brandie

[londonflo]

21 hours ago, amoLucia said:

if I have a temp and ask for a blanket, PLEASE, give me a blanket!

I have quite a few pneumonias and the body chills wake me. Such a horrible feeling of being on ice. When the chills subside I am happy to discard my blanket...but it is such a comfort (though not effective) with chills. Chills do not abate with a blanket but one always has hope.

[londonflo]

56 minutes ago, amoLucia said:

At times, I've shivered so badly that my knees were buckling. And I have bitten my tongue also.

Temp is short term, so give the blanket for comfort!.

yes .. if you haven't experienced this you have no idea what it feels like and a book cannot explain the feeling. . Give comfort care

[MunoRN, RN]

Fever is a very important part of a healthy immune response, both viruses and bacteria have a hard time tolerating temps above normal body temp, I'm not sure where the belief nobody should have a fever comes from.

There is certainly a safe upper limit to a fever, the risk of neurological damage becomes an issue around 107 F or 42 C.  

Along with shivering and rigors, people likely feel cold despite not being cold because your immune system is trying to increase your core temp, for good reason.