What is a crucial means of patient protection when transporting them into the operating room?

Covering the patient to prevent heat loss is indeed a crucial means of patient protection when transporting them into the operating room. Maintaining normothermia—normal body temperature—is vital for patient safety and recovery. During transport, patients can lose heat due to factors such as anesthesia, room temperature, and exposure when moving. Hypothermia can increase the risk of complications, such as cardiac events, compromised immune function, and delayed wound healing.

While monitoring vital signs is an essential practice in perioperative care, its primary role is to assess the patient’s stability rather than protect them directly during transport. Applying restraints may be necessary in certain situations but is typically not considered a standard practice for all patients during transport and may also pose additional risks. Providing sedatives, while useful for ensuring patient comfort, does not directly address the need for protecting the patient’s body temperature during movement. Therefore, the act of covering the patient specifically serves the dual purpose of warmth and safeguarding overall wellbeing during their transition to the operating room.