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Frequently Asked Questions About the 3M™ Bair Paws™ Gown
How does the Bair Paws gown work? There are two elements to the Bair Paws system: the warming gown and the warming unit. The warming unit blows warmed air through a hose that connects to the Bair Paws gown. The Bair Paws gown is worn like a traditional cotton gown and ties on the side and behind the neck. However, the Bair Paws gown looks a little different than traditional cotton gowns. There are hose ports on the shoulder and at the bottom of the gown. Your healthcare professional will connect the warming unit hose to one of the ports and turn the warming unit ON. Air will flow into the gown through tiny holes in the gown’s insert. You can adjust the temperature by turning the knob on the temperature controller. Why has my healthcare facility chosen to use the Bair Paws system? The Bair Paws system provides your facility with a versatile tool. The system not only addresses common patient concerns like warmth and modesty, it also puts control of thermal comfort right into your hands. The Bair Paws system utilizes forced-air warming, a technology that offers many benefits. Recent studies suggest that forced-air warming may result in a reduction in your perioperative anxiety, and using forced-air warming to keep warm before, during and after surgery has been shown to reduce your risks of surgical complications and the costs associated with them. When is the Bair Paws system used? The Bair Paws gown can be used at any time in place of a traditional cotton gown. Before and after surgery, the gown is typically connected to a Bair Paws patient adjustable warming unit so you can adjust the temperature setting to your personal comfort level. During surgery, your doctor may connect the gown to a 3M™ Bair Hugger™ temperature management unit to help maintain your body temperature during your procedure. A doctor or nurse will monitor your temperature and control the setting on the Bair Hugger unit accordingly. How do I know if the warming gown is working? After the warming unit hose has been connected to your gown and the unit has been turned ON, you should feel air moving through the gown. The gown will “puff up” a bit as air fills the air channels. If you adjust the temperature on the temperature controller, you will feel the change in the gown’s air temperature within a few minutes. What if I’m still cold after the warming unit has been turned ON? First, make sure that the knob on the temperature controller is turned to the warmest setting. If you’re still cold, ask your healthcare professional for other items to keep you warm, like booties and/or a cap. How is the Bair Paws unit hose disconnected from the warming gown? If you need to move around in the surgical waiting area, you or your healthcare professional can easily disconnect the hose from the gown. First, turn the knob on the temperature controller to the OFF position. Then just squeeze and hold the two buttons on the sides of the hose nozzle while you remove the hose from the gown’s hose port. To reconnect the hose, squeeze the two buttons again while you insert the hose nozzle into the hose port. Could the gown get uncomfortably warm? A comfortable temperature is a matter of personal preference. If you are feeling too warm, turn the knob on the temperature controller to a cooler setting until the air temperature feels more comfortable. You can stop the airflow completely by turning the knob to OFF. To resume airflow, turn the knob back to a setting that is comfortable. |
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