Hypothermia Management in Extreme Conditions

Hypothermia is a silent but deadly adversary, particularly in extreme and austere environments such as high-altitude operations, cold-weather deployments, and remote combat missions. It independently compromises physical and cognitive function and worsens outcomes when combined with trauma or other critical injuries. Timely recognition, prevention, and effective field management of hypothermia are crucial to prevent death and disability. This chapter provides a comprehensive approach tailored to tactical and wilderness medicine settings, integrating field-based preventive measures, clinical recognition, grading severity, immediate interventions using available resources, and definitive evacuation strategies. Special emphasis is given to hypothermia complicating polytrauma and its critical influence on tactical casualty evacuation protocols.