What action should be taken if there is an increase in temperature during a blood transfusion?

When there is an increase in temperature during a blood transfusion, the appropriate action is to stop the transfusion and remove the tubing. This response is critical to ensure patient safety. An elevated temperature can indicate a transfusion reaction, which may pose serious health risks, including hemolytic reactions or febrile non-hemolytic reactions.

Stopping the transfusion promptly allows for the assessment of the underlying cause of the temperature increase and helps to mitigate any potential harm to the patient. Following this, it's important to maintain venous access with normal saline and notify the healthcare provider for further instructions. Monitoring the patient's vital signs and symptoms after stopping the transfusion is also essential for appropriate management.

Other options like continuing to monitor, increasing the flow rate, or administering antipyretics may distract from the immediate need to address a possible transfusion reaction and could risk the patient's safety if the reaction is indeed severe. Immediate intervention by stopping the transfusion is the best course of action to safeguard the patient’s health.