What strategies are used to prevent hypothermia in trauma patients?

• A. Warmed IV fluids, warming blankets, ambient temperature control, minimizing exposure, warmed humidified oxygen
• B. Cold fluids and cold oxygen
• C. Prolonged exposure to ambient air
• D. No warming measures

Answer: (A)

Preventing hypothermia in trauma care relies on both reducing heat loss and adding warmth to keep the patient’s core temperature stable. Trauma patients are at high risk for hypothermia from environmental exposure, transfer, and resuscitation with cold fluids or dry room air, and hypothermia worsens coagulopathy and acidosis, worsening outcomes. The best approach includes warming IV fluids to near body temperature, using warming blankets to supply external heat, controlling the ambient environment to reduce heat loss, minimizing unnecessary exposure of the patient’s skin, and using warmed, humidified oxygen to prevent heat loss through the airway and lungs. Together, these strategies actively maintain normothermia during resuscitation.

In contrast, cold fluids and cold oxygen introduce or amplify cooling, prolonged exposure increases heat loss, and no warming measures leave the patient unprotected against rapid hypothermia.