North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

When providing neonatal resuscitation, what is the first step regarding temperature?

1. Maintain a cool environment

2. Keep warm and dry

3. Use heating lamps

4. Incorporate ice packs to cool

The correct answer is: Keep warm and dry

The first step in neonatal resuscitation regarding temperature is to keep the newborn warm and dry. This is critical because newborns are particularly vulnerable to hypothermia immediately after birth due to their high surface area-to-volume ratio and limited ability to generate heat. Maintaining a warm environment helps to ensure that the infant’s body temperature remains stable, which is vital for proper physiological function, particularly in the early moments following delivery. The focus on warmth also aligns with the practice of drying the newborn immediately after birth to prevent heat loss through evaporation. This approach not only supports thermoregulation but also contributes positively to the overall success of the resuscitation efforts. Using heating lamps or other warming devices may be appropriate later on in the resuscitation process, but the immediate priority is to ensure that the neonate is kept warm and dry to mitigate the risk of hypothermia.