What should be done to prevent heat loss for patients during transport to the operating room?

Providing warm blankets is an effective method to prevent heat loss during patient transport to the operating room. When patients are transported, particularly if they are anesthetized or sedated, they are more vulnerable to hypothermia due to decreased heat production and increased heat loss. Warm blankets serve to create a thermal barrier, helping to retain body heat and maintain a stable core temperature.

Using bright lights or temperature-controlled rooms can have some effect on the environment, but they do not directly provide warmth to the patient during transport. Feeding the patient is not relevant to preventing heat loss as it does not directly affect body temperature. Thus, warm blankets are the most direct and effective means of preventing heat loss in this context.