A 23-year-old patient has a core temperature of 93.4°F (34°C). She is shivering, cold, pale, muscles are rigid, and respirations are rapid. Which of the following actions is appropriate?

• A. place heat packs to the groin, axillae, and behind her neck; cover with warm blankets; and avoid rough handling
• B. apply ice packs to the neck and wrists and rub with alcohol
• C. cool her further with water sprays
• D. remove blankets to observe for shivering

Answer: (A)

In mild to moderate hypothermia, the priority is gentle warming of the body's core to raise the temperature without provoking dangerous cardiovascular effects. Warming the core areas—such as the groin, axillae, and behind the neck—helps raise the overall temperature efficiently while minimizing the risk that cold, shocked tissues will trigger arrhythmias or cause shock. Covering the patient with warm blankets supports a gradual, controlled rewarming and reduces heat loss.

Rubbing with ice or alcohol, cooling sprays, or removing blankets would counteract this process by introducing or sustaining cold exposure, which can worsen hypothermia and increase the risk of complications. In this scenario, the best approach is to apply heat packs to the core regions and keep the patient warmly covered while handling them gently to avoid trauma to the cold, stiff tissues.