American Lifeguard Practice Exam

Why does a victim suffering from hypothermia need to be rewarmed slowly?

1. It helps them recover faster

2. Rapid rewarming can cause dangerous heart rhythms

3. Slow warming prevents shivering

4. It is easier to monitor their condition

The correct answer is: Rapid rewarming can cause dangerous heart rhythms

A victim suffering from hypothermia needs to be rewarmed slowly primarily because rapid rewarming can lead to dangerous heart rhythms. When a hypothermic individual is exposed to sudden heat, it can cause a sharp shift in body temperature, which might lead to cardiovascular instability. Specifically, this rapid change can provoke a condition known as "rewarming shock," which can have severe effects on the heart, including arrhythmias. The heart may struggle to adjust to the sudden influx of blood flow to the warmer areas of the body, resulting in irregular heartbeats that can be life-threatening. The other options, while they may contain some merit, do not address the most critical reason for slow rewarming in hypothermic patients. For instance, while slowly warming the body may aid in monitoring the individual's condition, the primary concern remains the heart's response to temperature changes. The notion of preventing shivering is also less relevant in this context, as shivering can often still occur during gradual rewarming, and a quicker recovery is less likely when considering the physiological stresses involved.