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Newborn hypothermia — DipIMC MCQ

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EasyPaediatric and Obstetric EmergenciesNewborn hypothermiaDipIMC

A baby is delivered unexpectedly in a cold bathroom. The baby is breathing and crying but remains wet and cool to touch. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: E — Dry the baby, remove wet towels and provide skin-to-skin warmth with covering

Option E is correct because Thermal care is immediate after birth because drying and skin-to-skin reduce neonatal hypothermia. Option C is less appropriate because oxygen may be supportive, but it does not address the defining time-critical problem first; option D is less appropriate because vascular access is useful, but it should not delay the immediate priority. Option B is less appropriate because it is plausible in a different scenario but suboptimal for the features described; option A is less appropriate because delay would increase clinical risk. Clinical pearl: in DipIMC-style questions, the best answer is the intervention that changes outcome earliest in the pre-hospital phase.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK Newborn Life Support; JRCALC Guidelines