What is the appropriate treatment for severe hypothermia?

The appropriate treatment for severe hypothermia involves actively rewarming the patient to restore normal body temperature and prevent complications such as cardiac arrhythmias, coagulopathy, and prolonged recovery times. Administering warm IV fluids at 39 C (102.2 F) is particularly effective, as it helps to raise the core body temperature rapidly while also providing necessary hydration and electrolyte balance.

This method targets the central circulatory system effectively, allowing for the transfer of heat directly into the bloodstream, which promotes systemic warming. The choice of the specific temperature for the IV fluids is critical; it must be warm enough to effectively increase the body’s heat but not so hot as to cause burns or shock.

Other treatments, like using only heated blankets or external warming devices, while important in managing hypothermia, typically do not provide the same rapid and complete rewarming as warming the intravenous fluids. Cool saline IV fluids would further exacerbate the hypothermic condition, and therefore, are not appropriate in the context of severe hypothermia.