RELATIVE-HUMIDITY UNDER RADIANT WARMERS - INFLUENCE OF HUMIDIFIER ANDAMBIENT RELATIVE-HUMIDITY

The effects of humidifier air temperature and flow, and ambient relati ve humidity (RHamb) 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% RHamb a nd 67.6% at 55% RHamb. Humidifier temperature of 38 degrees C and air flow of 10 LPM produced highest RHs (74.5% and 43.1% in high and low R Hamb, respectively). RHamb 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 mus t be known when using this method to limit evaporative water loss.