Anti-shock trousers should only be used if the patient's low blood pressure is due to blood loss or severe fluid depletion. Moving a hypothermic patient's extremities may also cause cold peripheral blood to be pumped into the central circulation, affecting cardiac rhythm. Do not expose the patient's skin to cold air, wind or spray, especially the down-wash created by helicopter rotor blades. This treatment will prevent further respiratory heat loss which is significant in hypotermia and will help to stabilize heart, lung and brain temperatures. These sources of external heat MUST be insulated from direct contact with the patient's skin, in order to prevent thermal burns.
Hypothermic skin is very sensitive to heat and is easily burned.
Provide rescuer's body heat. When wrapped together in a blanket or sleeping bag, a rescuer can donate body heat to a hypothermic patient. This technique is not without risk however, since slow external rewarming in this way may aggravate the frequency of abnormal heart beats. It should only be used when there will be a long delay in transporting the patient to a site of complete medical care. Hot drinks are not effective in warming a severely hypothermic victim.