This year's Boston Marathoners in hospital gowns? Arizant Healthcare products typically for surgical patients will be used to warm runners

Products typically used for surgical patients will be used to warm runners at the Boston Marathon who become chilled.

Marathoners are usually thought of as a healthy bunch, but at this year's Boston Marathon you may see some of them wrapped in hospital gowns and surgical blankets. Bair Huggerâ therapy and the Bair Paws patient adjustable warming system—products typically used for surgical patients— will be used to warm runners who become chilled.

A primary component of Bair Hugger therapy is a forced-air warming blanket that is most often used for surgical patients who may be in danger of becoming hypothermic during their operations. The Bair Paws system, which features a gown through which warm air blows, will be given to runners to wear if they are chilled after their run. The specially designed gown is attached to a small warming unit. Runners can then use a hand-held temperature controller to adjust the temperature of air that flows through perforations in the gown to a comfortable level.

Arizant Healthcare Inc., the manufacturer of these products, has made Bair Hugger therapy available for medical professionals use at this event for several years. And now, the company is donating its new Bair Paws system as well.

What are these products?
Bair Hugger therapy is a forced-air warming system used to maintain normal body temperatures in surgical patients. The system consists of a forced-air warming unit that is attached to one of 19 different blanket styles. The system is used before, during and after surgery, including blankets for the operating room, recovery room, cath lab, cardiac procedures and pediatric patients.

The Bair Paws system, which is typically used to comfort patients before and after surgical procedures, allows the user full control of the air temperature flowing through the system. Bair Paws warming gowns are made from a soft, opaque material and are designed for single-use. In addition, the warming gowns are cut generously, so any size patient (or runner) will be comfortable.

For more information on products from Arizant Healthcare Inc., go to www.arizanthealthcare.com.

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