What measures help prevent hypothermia during cold-weather evacuations?

• A. Keep casualty dry, insulate with blankets, minimize wind exposure, and actively warm as appropriate
• B. Expose skin to wind to test tolerance
• C. Remove all clothing
• D. Rely on body heat alone

Answer: (A)

Measures to prevent hypothermia during cold-weather evacuations center on reducing heat loss and providing safe warming. Keeping the casualty dry prevents evaporative cooling and reduces heat loss through contact with damp clothing. Insulating with blankets traps warm air next to the body, slowing heat loss by conduction and convection. Minimizing wind exposure cuts down on wind chill, which accelerates heat loss from the body's surface. Actively warming as appropriate adds heat in a controlled way, using warming blankets, warm packs, or a heated environment to raise temperature without causing burns or shock. Exposing skin to wind, removing clothing, or relying on body heat alone would increase heat loss and raise the risk of hypothermia during evacuation.