Gloves filled with hot water should not be applied to the skin prior to capillary blood sampling due to the risk of burns.
Reports of burns to the heel, occurring due to the application of a glove filled with hot water, or a hot water bottle in the community setting, have been reviewed recently by the NHS England Patient Safety Team.
BAPM advises that gloves filled with water should not be used and Infant heel warmers used with extreme caution due to the risk of injury. In addition, use of a glove or gel pack has not been shown to improve sample quality or reduce patient discomfort1 and is therefore not recommended.
This is in keeping with the previous Safety Alert shared by BAPM in Aug 2021 and Public Health England guidance on newborn blood spot screening.
BAPM recommends all neonatal units have a standardised approach and education package for capillary blood sampling which includes this safety message.
This Spotlight on Safety Story highlights the issue and shows consideration and learning, informing safer practice.
1.Toennesen U L, Kierkegaard H, Kofoed P E et al. Warming prior to Heel Stick. Blood Sample Quality and Infant Comfort- A Randomised Controlled Trial. Advances in Neonatal Care 23(6):p E129-E138 Dec 2023 Advances in Neonatal Care
Submit your alert
BAPM can help publicise safety alerts to our members. For urgent alerts please contact the BAPM office or call 020 7092 6085/6. BAPM can anonymise alerts before circulation if needed.
