title: Relative humidity under radiant warmers: influence of humidifier and ambient relative humidity.
abstract: The effects of humidifier air temperature and flow, and ambient relative humidity (RH(amb)) on RH and air temperature under a radiant warmer (RW) were determined in stable and unstable conditions, using an infant surrogate. Mean supplemented RH under the RW was 36.3% at 14% RH(amb) and 67.6% at 55% RH(amb). Humidifier temperature of 38 degrees C and air flow of 10 LPM produced highest RHs (74.5% and 43.1% in high and low RH(amb), respectively). RH(amb) was highest in summer and lowest in winter in this midwest U.S. hospital, and could be predicted by calendar date (r = 0.58). Humidification equipment capabilities and limitations must be known when using this method to limit evaporative water loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Columbus Children's Hospital, OH 43205, USA.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Seguin
mesh_terms: D000392:Air Movements; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007186:Incubators, Infant / Q000592:standards*; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors