This study compared head vs. torso warming using a similar source of heat donation. Six subjects were cooled in 8˚C water to either a core temperature of 35˚C or for 60 min. They were then rewarmed by either shivering only, or charcoal heater applied to the head, or torso. There were no significant differences in rewarming rate between the three conditions. Head warming did not inhibit average shivering heat production resulting in greater net heat gain during 35-60 min of rewarming compared to shivering. Head warming is as effective as torso warming for hypothermic victims.Head warming could be a preferred method in some cases: extreme conditions in which removal of the insulation and exposure of the torso to the cold is contraindicated; excessive movement is contraindicated (e.g., severe hypothermia which has a risk of ventricular fibrillation, or potential spinal injury); or if emergency personnel are working on the torso.iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.