Head insulation and heat loss in the newborn

Abstract

The thermal balance of 13 term infants was measured in a closed-circuit metabolism chamber. Each was studied naked, then with a gamgee-lined hat, and finally with a 'cummerbund' made of a similar material and of similar dimensions. At 27°C the oxygen consumption of the 'hatted' babies was only 85 % and the total heat loss 75 % of the values measured with the infants naked. The cummerbund offered no detectable benefit. An additional 10 infants were studied while wearing a tubegauze hat at environmental temperatures of 28 5 (±0* 5)°C. This type of hat gave no measurable thermal protection. It is concluded that a substantial reduction of thermal stress in adverse environments can be achieved simply and cheaply by adequately covering the vault of the skull.