ATLS Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Guide for Exam Preparation

Maintaining a trauma patient's body temperature is crucial in managing their overall care, as hypothermia can significantly complicate their condition and contribute to worse outcomes. Covering the patient with warm blankets is an effective method to prevent heat loss and promote warmth. It helps retain body heat, especially in cases where the patient may have lost blood or is experiencing shock, both of which can lead to decreased body temperature.

Using warm blankets can also provide comfort and support to the patient, which is important in a traumatic situation. Moreover, this method is practical and can be quickly implemented in a variety of settings, including the pre-hospital environment.

In contrast, exposing the patient to a cold environment or using chilled IV fluids can exacerbate hypothermia, making the situation much more dangerous. Ensuring they remain outdoors or isolating them in a cold room would further contribute to a drop in body temperature, which is counterproductive in trauma management. Thus, wrapping a patient in warm blankets aligns perfectly with the goal of maintaining normothermia and preventing complications associated with hypothermia.