What does central rewarming entail?

Central rewarming focuses on warming the body's core areas to help restore normal body temperature effectively. This approach is critical in treating hypothermia, as warming the extremities alone may not sufficiently increase core temperature and can lead to dangerous complications like "afterdrop," where cold blood returns from the extremities to the core, further lowering the body temperature.

Applying heat to the lateral chest, neck, armpits, and groin is particularly effective because these areas house large blood vessels close to the surface of the skin. Warming these regions allows for rapid heat transfer to the central circulatory system, aiding in the restoration of core temperature more efficiently than warming extremities or the whole body uniformly. This method ensures the vital organs are protected and helps stabilize the patient's condition as they recover from cold exposure.