Accidental hypothermia severe — DipIMC MCQ

Correct answer: B — Handle gently, prevent further heat loss and arrange transfer for active rewarming

Handle gently, prevent further heat loss and arrange transfer for active rewarming is the best answer because severe hypothermia carries arrhythmia risk and needs gentle handling and definitive rewarming. Defer treatment until a senior hospital doctor reviews the patient is less appropriate because pre-hospital clinicians must treat immediate threats within scope; Immobilise every joint and delay departure for a detailed examination is less appropriate because prolonged packaging can delay definitive care. Use oral analgesia as the main treatment and Give unrestricted crystalloid to normalise blood pressure are also suboptimal because they move attention away from the key pre-hospital priority.. The key DipIMC principle is to treat immediate reversible threats, communicate clearly and move the patient toward the right definitive care.

Reference: JRCALC Guidelines; Resuscitation Council UK Guidelines; UKHSA Heatwave and Cold Weather Plan