Question

You are treating a patient with a late or deep local injury to an extremity. You are several hours away from a hospital. You should:

1) Not attempt to rewarm
2) Briskly massage the extremity
3) Immerse the extremity in water that is well below normal body temperature
4) Rapidly rewarm the extremity in a warm water bath

Answer 1

In cases of late or deep local injuries to an extremity, it is advisable to gradually rewarm the affected area in a warm water bath to minimize further tissue damage.

Step-by-step explanation:

When treating a patient with a late or deep local injury to an extremity and several hours away from a hospital, the proper course of action would be to rapidly rewarm the extremity in a warm water bath. It is essential not to massage the affected area as this can cause additional damage. Immersion in very warm water is not recommended due to the risk of burns or thermal injury. Instead, the extremity should be rewarmed slowly and carefully to avoid further tissue damage. The principle behind this is similar to the controlled re-warming used in various medical procedures, such as controlled hypothermia during cardiac arrest or surgery, to slowly and safely return the body to its normal temperature.