Handling and Packaging of Medical Bags at the Acute Disaster Site Under High Temperature Conditions

Abstract

The handling of medical bags in high temperature disaster sites has not been fully evaluated. In this study, medical bags were assessed in the closed, semi-opened, and opened state, with and without heat insulating material (HIM) and a coolant. The bags were heated for 300 minutes at 35 or 40{degrees}C, and the internal temperature was measured. closed and semi-opened bags were able to limit temperature increases in the central part of the bag at both 35 and 40{degrees}C to a greater extent than opened bags. When coolant and HIM were used in closed and semi-opened bags, the internal temperature was significantly lower than that seen in the opened state at 40{degrees}C (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, in high temperature disaster sites, medical bags should be maintained in a semi-opened or closed state using a HIM and coolant.