title: Seasonal mapping of NICU temperature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To create a thermal map of ambient air, radiant, and evaporative temperatures and humidity throughout the NICU nursery by season across a calendar year.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each cubicle of the 32-bed NICU, distributed across 5 rooms, in a level III nursery was measured.
  
  
  METHODS
  Temperatures were recorded at a consistent time on one day during January, April, July, and October.
  
  
  METHODS
  : An electronic monitor (QUESTemp ° 34; Quest Technologies, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin) was used to measure dry bulb, wet bulb, and globe thermometer temperatures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of variance revealed statistically significant (P ≤ .000) differences in season, room, and season by room interaction. Room ambient air temperatures differed by less than 2 ° F across season. Radiant temperature paralleled air temperature. Humidity, the predominant difference across season, produced evaporative temperatures considerably lower than room air temperature, and the gradient between mean nursery dry bulb temperature and wet bulb temperature was 9.3 ° F in summer and 16.8 ° F in winter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The thermal map revealed seasonal thermal differences, particularly in humidity level and evaporative temperature. Room temperature alone does not reflect the total thermal environment. Recommendations include periodic assessment of nurseries along with air, evaporative, and radiant temperatures as well as humidity to fully appreciate the impact of the thermal environment on infants.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA. kthomas@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Almita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magbalot
authors.forename: Kelley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shinabarger
authors.forename: Larisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mokhnach
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Kristi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Diercks
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Millar
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thorngate
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dilback
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berkan
mesh_terms: D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature