Assessment of Cereal - Grain Warming Pad as a Heat Source for Newborn Transport

Kriangsak Jirapaet , MD , MPH * Veena Jirapaet , DNSc **
*Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University 
**Faculty of Nursing, Chulalongkorn University

Objective :

The study assessed warming pad ( WP ) filled with either mung beans or dry corn used in feeding livestocks as a heat source for newborn transport . Its use was to compensate for lack of transport incubator or to employ as a supplemental heat source for warming the infant or incubator when transport made in cold weather.

Material and Method :

The WP was made of a strong - cotton - cloth bag ( the fabric for making jeans ) with a size of A 4 paper sheet . The bag was filled with one kilogram of either mung beans or dry corn ( used in feeding livestocks ). The WP was heated in a 800 - watts microwave oven for 2 minutes with grains thoroughly mixed inside to distribute heat evenly and put in a disposable A 4 - size brown envelope . The temperature at the surface of the brown envelope with the WP inside was recorded every 5 minutes for 120 minutes to assess which cereal grain could emit more heat and keep the heat longer . Then the WP was heated in the microwave oven for 1 , 1 1/2 and 2 minutes , placed in the same size of brown envelope and covered with two towels . The temperatures at the surface of the brown envelope and each layer of towels were recorded with the same frequency and duration.

Results :

The cereal - grain WPs , both mung beans and dry corn , were equally effective in producing heat when warmed in the microwave oven . The mean maximal temperatures at the surface of brown envelope were too high for direct application to newborns . The mean maximal temperatures of towels covering the paper envelope with WP heated in the microwave oven for 1 minute were as followed . At the first towel , which was close to the WP , the mean temperature reached 42° C ( 107.6° F ) in 10 minutes after warming and was maintained > 42° C for 10 minutes . All temperature measurements at the first towel was < 42° C at 35 minutes . At 2 hours the mean temperature of the first towel was 35.6° C ( 96.1° F ) which was higher than room temperature by 5.3° C (41.5° F ). The maximal mean temperature measured at the second towel , representing the infantus skin contact surface , was 39.7° C ( 103.5° F ) at 15 minutes of which the peak temperature was 41.0° C ( 105.8° F ).

Reference:
Jirapaet K. Jirapaet V. Assessment of cereal-grain warming pad as a heat source for newborn transport.
J Med Assoc Thai 2005; 88 ( Suppl 8 ): S 203-10 Full text . Guideline (PDF)

Fill the bag with 1-kilogram of either mung beans or
dry corn (used in feeding livestocks).

Heat the cereal-grain warming pad (CWP) in a 800-watt microwave
oven with maximum heat for 1 minutes. If a 400-watt microwave
oven is used, heat it for 2 minutes.

 

Mix grains inside the CWP thoroughly to distribute heat evenly and put it in a disposable A4-size brown envelope to
prevent contamination.

Put a towel above the brown envelope with the CWP inside.

Place the bundled infant on the first towel.

Remove the towel at 35 minutes and lay
the bundled infant on the brown envelope.

 

Warning  
Warming the CWP in the microwave oven longer than the recommended period may result in burns.

NB The cereal grains inside can be reused for 100 times.