How do you treat a patient with suspected hypothermia?

Treating a patient with suspected hypothermia requires a careful approach to rewarming the patient and stabilizing their condition. Moving them to a warm environment is crucial, as it helps to prevent further heat loss and begins the process of raising their body temperature.

Removing wet clothing is also essential because wet materials can significantly increase heat loss from the body, making it more difficult for the patient to regain a normal temperature. By replacing wet clothing with warm, dry blankets, you create a microclimate around the patient that facilitates rewarming.

Providing warm fluids helps rehydrate the patient and can also aid in raising their internal temperature. Warm, non-alcoholic, and non-caffeinated fluids are typically recommended to ensure they are safe and effective for the process of rewarming.

This approach contrasts sharply with the other options, which would exacerbate the hypothermic condition instead of alleviating it. Placing a patient in a cold environment or wrapping them in cold blankets would further lower their body temperature. Offering high-sugar snacks might provide a temporary source of energy but lacks the essential components needed to effectively treat hypothermia, such as proper warmth and hydration.