Vol. 93, Issue 4, 1275-1279, October 2002
Influence of head position on thermal stress in newborns:
simulation using a thermal mannequin
Elmountacer Billah
Elabbassi,
Karen
Chardon,
Frédéric
Telliez,
Véronique
Bach, and
Jean-Pierre
Libert
Environnement Toxique Périnatal et Adaptations
Physiologiques et Comportementales, Faculté de
Médecine, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, F-80036
Amiens Cédex, France
The influence of head position on
thermal stress was assessed by using a heavily clothed thermal
mannequin in three different body positions [supine, face straight up
(FSU); supine, face to the side (FTS); prone, FTS] and with or without
the head covered by a bonnet. The mannequin was exposed to air
temperatures of 29, 32, 34, and 36°C. When the head is uncovered,
body or head position has no impact on heat loss. When the head is
covered, dry heat loss from the mannequin as a whole (and that from the head in particular) is lower (
0.35 to 0.40 W) in the FTS position than in the FSU position as a result of decreased heat loss from the
surface area of the face in contact with the mattress. In the FTS
position and with the head covered, there was no difference in heat
loss between the prone and supine positions. The results suggest that
in heavily clothed newborns whose head is covered by a bonnet, thermal
stress depends on the head position.
heat stress; clothing insulation; body position
