A casualty has a tourniquet placed correctly and needs to be treated for hypothermia. Which choice represents the correct application of an active warming device?

A casualty has a tourniquet placed correctly and needs to be treated for hypothermia. Which choice represents the correct application of an active warming device?

• A. Cover completely except the face
• B. Leave the face completely covered
• C. Use a warming device on the torso only
• D. Place heat packs around the arms

Answer: (A)

The key idea is warming the casualty’s core while preserving airway monitoring. In hypothermia care, you want heat to stay where it can raise the core temperature most effectively, which means insulating the body and applying active warming to the trunk area. Keeping the face exposed lets you see the casualty’s breathing and quickly spot any airway issues, which is critical if their condition changes. Covering the body completely except for the face also minimizes heat loss from the torso while still allowing you to assess and manage the airway as needed. Heating the limbs or concentrating heat on the arms is less effective for core rewarming and can distract heat toward the periphery, potentially slowing stabilization.

The key idea is warming the casualty’s core while preserving airway monitoring. In hypothermia care, you want heat to stay where it can raise the core temperature most effectively, which means insulating the body and applying active warming to the trunk area. Keeping the face exposed lets you see the casualty’s breathing and quickly spot any airway issues, which is critical if their condition changes. Covering the body completely except for the face also minimizes heat loss from the torso while still allowing you to assess and manage the airway as needed. Heating the limbs or concentrating heat on the arms is less effective for core rewarming and can distract heat toward the periphery, potentially slowing stabilization.