1 Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
Infants needing resuscitation in the delivery room frequently become chilled. For resuscitation the infant must be covered and on a flat surface. Heated surfaces are available with circulating-water mattresses and resuscitation tables. These only heat the dependent area of the infant and are usually insufficient to prevent heat loss. The combination of such a unit with an overhead radiant heater or the overhead radiant heater alone is adequate. However, the overhead radiant heater must allow free access to the infant, which is not the case with all radiant heaters now being marketed.