What is typically NOT a treatment for severe hypothermia?

Severe hypothermia is a medical emergency that requires specific treatment strategies aimed at slowly rewarming the body and stabilizing the individual’s condition. The goal in treating severe hypothermia is to increase the body temperature to a normal state without causing complications, such as afterdrop, where a sudden warming can lead to dangerous heart rhythms due to the cold blood returning to the heart.

Internal heating methods, like using warm IV fluids or advanced techniques such as intra-abdominal or thoracic lavage, are standard treatments that help raise the core body temperature effectively in severe cases. Wrapping the individual in warm blankets is a common first approach to provide external warmth to the person and prevent further heat loss. Monitoring heart rate closely is crucial because hypothermia can lead to arrhythmias, so practitioners must be vigilant about the patient's cardiovascular status.

Administering caffeine, however, does not provide any therapeutic benefit for someone suffering from severe hypothermia. In fact, caffeine can act as a diuretic, potentially worsening dehydration, and does not contribute to rewarming or stabilization of the individual. As a result, it is not considered an effective or appropriate treatment option in this scenario.