Heat Loss - Convection, Evaporation, Radiation, Conduction

Body heat losses are primarily by convection, evaporation and radiation. Thermoregulation is the ability of human to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when the surrounding temperature is very different. This process is one aspect of homeostasis: a dynamic state of stability between an human body's internal environment and its external environment. Thermoregulation is an important aspect of human homeostasis. Most body heat is generated in the deep organs, especially the liver, brain, and heart, and in contraction of skeletal muscles.

There are four avenues of heat loss:
Evaporation (about 20%):
- loss of heat as water evaporates from the infants body
- dry the NB immediately after birth to prevent heat loss
- loss of heat through conversion of a liquid to a vapor

Conduction (about 5%):
- loss of body heat in direct contact with cool surfaces
- do not place NB on cold surfaces like the weighing scale
- transfer of body heat to a cooler solid object in contact with the body

Convection(about 40%):
- loss of heat due to cool air
- wrap the NB immediately with blanket & promote flexion to minimize body surface exposed to cool air
- flow of heat from body surface to cooler surroundings

Radiation (about 40%):
- loss of heat to cool surfaces not in contact with the body
- wrap the NB immediately with blanket & promote flexion
- transfer of body heat to a cooler solid object not in contact with the body

Thermal Comfort Factors are the following:
Air Temperature
Air Motion
Relative Humidity