During near-drowning with hypothermia, which approach best supports safe rewarming?

• A. Do not rewarm aggressively
• B. Rapid rewarming with hot water immersion
• C. Warm blankets and monitored rewarming
• D. Administer diuretics to promote fluid shift

Answer: (C)

Gradual, monitored rewarming is essential in hypothermia from near-drowning. Cold, hypoperfused bodies cope poorly with rapid temperature changes, and abrupt warming can trigger dangerous shifts in circulation and heart rhythms. Using warm blankets and keeping the patient in a controlled environment allows core temperature to rise safely while clinicians monitor vital signs and rhythm, ready to address airway, breathing, and circulation as needed. Aggressive rewarming methods, such as hot-water immersion, heat the skin and core too quickly, risking burns, vasodilation, rewarming shock, and electrolyte disturbances. Diuretics have no role in rewarming and can worsen dehydration and imbalances. So the best approach is warm blankets and monitored rewarming.