Which action helps prevent a patient from becoming cold at the outset of care?

• A. Use a blanket to warm them up
• B. Increase room temperature without warming
• C. Expose the patient to air conditioning
• D. Do nothing

Answer: (A)

Maintaining normal body temperature early in care is essential to prevent cold stress. The best action is to provide external warmth right away by placing a warm blanket on the patient. A blanket gives immediate, direct insulation and reduces heat loss through conduction and convection, helping to keep the core temperature from dropping as care begins. Relying on a higher room temperature may help somewhat, but it’s often not enough on its own and can be impractical in a busy setting. Exposing the patient to air conditioning or doing nothing would increase heat loss and raise the risk of shivering, discomfort, and related complications. In the context of early care, especially with sedation monitoring, using a blanket is the most effective first step to prevent the patient from becoming cold.