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Neonatal transfer thermal care — DIPIMC MCQ

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HardRetrieval and TransportNeonatal transfer thermal careDIPIMCDipIMC

A baby is born unexpectedly at the roadside at term and requires transfer to hospital. The infant is breathing spontaneously with a good heart rate but is peripherally cool. What are the most important priorities during transfer?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: E — Maintain temperature and watch for hypoglycaemia, with airway and breathing

Newborns lose heat rapidly because of their high surface-area-to-mass ratio, and hypothermia worsens hypoglycaemia, acidosis and outcome, so thermal care — drying, wrapping, covering the head and skin-to-skin contact — is a priority during transfer alongside airway and breathing. Neonatal hypoglycaemia is common and should be monitored and treated if present, rather than giving routine dextrose to an asymptomatic infant. Therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy is a controlled in-hospital decision, not deliberate roadside cooling of a well baby. Pearl: record the time of birth, keep the baby warm en route, and reassess heart rate and breathing as the primary indicators of wellbeing.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK Guidelines 2025 (Newborn); APLS