Why Are Hospitals Always So Cold? - Why ICU is Cold | E-Control Systems (2024)

Hospitals can be chilly places. Have you ever wondered why hospitals are so cold or if they need to be that cold? There is a reason that they’re kept at an almost uncomfortably cold level. Keeping hospital temperatures cooler makes them better and safer environments. Below are some reasons that hospitals are so cold all the time.

Why Do They Keep Hospitals & ICU Rooms So Cold?

To Prevent Bacteria Growth

Hospitals combat bacteria growth with cold temperatures. Keeping cold temperatures help slow bacterial and viral growth because bacteria and viruses thrive in warm temperatures. Operating rooms are usually the coldest areas in a hospital to keep the risk of infection at a minimum. This is the same premise as food safety practices in the food industry that rely on freezers and refrigeration to keep food bacteria free for customers. This is also why a remote temperature monitoring system is the best way to keep hospitals running at safe temperatures.

Comfort of Hospital Staff

Staff membersare constantly moving. For this reason cooler temperatures keep them comfortable. Maintaining a clean environment is critical for patient care, which is why temperatures stay cold, but it is advantageous for staff. Cooler temperatures also mean there will be less chance that hospital staff are sweating, and this in itself can increase safety. Air conditioning also helps to offset the heat bright lights produce during surgery.

Controlling Condensation

Air conditioning naturally takes humidity out of the air. This prevents condensation buildup on surfaces within the hospital. Condensation, which is brought on by humidity and warm temperatures, picks up bacteria and viruses. As condensation moves from surface to surface, it cross contaminates them. To combat this spread of disease and infection in the hospital room, cold temperatures and low humidity prevent condensation on sterilized surfaces, open wounds, and operating equipment.