Which warming measure is recommended for near-drowning victims?

• A. Warm blankets
• B. Ice packs
• C. Cold intravenous fluids
• D. Cooling measures with fans

Answer: (A)

When a near-drowning victim becomes hypothermic, the priority is gentle, external rewarming. Wrapping the person in warm blankets provides insulation and reduces heat loss to the chilly environment, allowing core temperature to rise gradually and safely. This passive warming approach is appropriate because it supports gradual rewarming without risking the complications that can come from aggressive or inappropriate warming methods.

Ice packs would pull heat from the body and could cause tissue injury; cold intravenous fluids would lower core temperature rather than help; cooling measures like fans would also decrease body temperature, which is not helpful when hypothermia is present.