For mild hypothermia, which treatment steps are appropriate?

• A. Cold fluids, wet clothes, exposure
• B. Warm fluids, dry clothes, shelter
• C. Alcohol to warm chest
• D. Overexercise to generate heat

Answer: (B)

The key idea is gentle rewarming and preventing further heat loss. In mild hypothermia, the priority is to move the person to a warmer, sheltered place, get them out of wet clothing, and provide dry, insulating layers. Warm fluids help raise core temperature from the inside without shocking the system. This combination—inside warmth from fluids and outside warmth from dry clothes and shelter—stabilizes temperature gradually and safely.

Alcohol should be avoided because it causes blood vessels to dilate, which increases heat loss and can mask worsening symptoms. Vigorous exercise or overheating, such as overexertion, can stress the heart and still lead to additional heat loss rather than effective warming. Wet clothes and exposure would keep cooling ongoing, so they’re not helpful.

So, warm fluids, dry clothes, and shelter align with rewarming and reducing further heat loss, making them the best steps for mild hypothermia.