Question:
Bring a fan to the Hospital?
Lots of people said they brought fans to the hospital. Why? Is it hot? or do you need the white noise? Do all hospitals allow that? — Katerina M. (posted on April 6, 2003)
April 6, 2003
I had my surgery in late November and there was 8 inches of snow on the
ground. I used a fan constantly. I am very hot natured and lying in the
bed, your body tends to perspire a lot. Also, the binder is quite warm. I
would check with your hospital as to whether they allow you to bring a fan.
I know the hospital I was in provided a fan for every bed - if it is a
semi-private room, there are two fans. I wouldn't assume that you can take
your own because of the fire laws.
— Patty_Butler
April 6, 2003
I did not use a fan nor did I need one. However, there was a huge fan in
my room put there by staffespecially for bariactric patients.
— Delores S.
April 6, 2003
It's funny, because every single time I've been in the hospital (3 times) I
get extremely cold and always request extra covers. Hospitals are
notoriously cold! But we're all so different when it comes to natural body
temperature, so if you're more prone to getting hot, bringing a fan
probably isn't a bad idea.
— Leni M.
April 6, 2003
Katerina, I took a brand new small fan with me, but was told that I could
not use it because of safety reasons. They had a fan for me to use and man,
was I glad! I stayed hot all the time before (a great contrast now) and
being in the hospital made matters worse. I think it was a combination of
the binder and the anesthesia. I would be cold one minute and then sweating
the next. I also am allergic to moraphine which we found out after the
fact! I would suggest you contact the hospital to find out if they will
have one available or if you need to bring your own. Either way, I would
definitely recommend having it. Best of luck to you!.....Karen (lap rny-6
months post-op /down 120 pounds!)
— karmiausnic
April 6, 2003
My wife brought me in a fan because my room was so ungodly hot. There was
a/c, but it was July and I had a corner room (private *G*) with windows on
the north and east corner of the room. I don't know if she mentioned it
to the nurses, but they had no problem with me having a fan. I've taken it
for my other hospital stays over the last couple of years too (7 total in
2001 & 2002) with no problems...JR
— John Rushton
April 6, 2003
Abolutely, positively bring a fan. I thought I was going to die it was so
hot in my room. We had the air as low as it would go, but I was sweating.
You have the binder and those thingies they put on your legs and the
plastic covered mattress. My son asked the nurse for a fan, but they could
not find one. So, he went to the Dollar Store and bought a small one for
me - I tell him to this day that he saved my life.
— Margaret G.
April 6, 2003
I don't know why hospitals are so hot but my small personal fan blowing on
my face overnight was a life saver! Kept me cool and comfortable. Its the
# 1 thing I recommend to bring to the hospital. That and lip balm.
— Cindy R.
April 6, 2003
I was burning up in my hospital room!! My husband went down to the gift
shop & bought me one of those little hand held fans you see at
amusement parks. It was a Godsend!! That & my back scratcher were my
2 favorite things in my hospital room!
— jarrett318
April 6, 2003
The hospital provided a fan for me. Even though I had a private room and
total control of the A/C,I was still burning up. Some say that the plastic
matresses make you hot and that the surgery naturally makes you hot.
— Dixie Chick
April 6, 2003
I'm a hot person, too. When they brought me from recovery to my room, they
bundled me up under a ton of blankets and the nurse's aide flipped on the
heat! I also had on the compression boots and thigh high compression hose!
As soon as they left the room, I had my husband turn down the thermostat
and help me get out from all the blankets. i was lucky that my room was
comfortable from then on - without a fan! You can call the hospital and
ask if they can provide a fan if you need it. I know the hospital where I
worked had a ton of them. There are safety issues when you bring your fan,
even if it is brand new. At our facility, they had to be checked by
security and tagged before you could use it. And it was not a priority for
them , since hey were always busy with putting tickets on cars in the
garage for parking wrong.(LOL)
— koogy
April 7, 2003
I think you should check with your hospital before you bring your own
fan. I work at fairly large hospital and our patients aren't allowed to
use their own fans, tv's, electric blankcets etc. It's a safety issue.
— mandy S.
April 7, 2003
Your spouse/significant other can always ask the nurses at the nurses
station about bringing in a fan from home. I've been at small hospitals
(Riddle Memorial Hospital in Media, PA) and large hospitals (Hospital of
the University of Pennsylvania in Phila, PA) and none of them have had a
problem with a patient bringing in their own fans. Only one time have
they had a concern with my bringing in my own CPAP machine - had someone
from their electrical department check it to make sure it was grounded
properly and they put a sticker on it. I've kept that sticker on there for
subsequent stays...JR
— John Rushton
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