What can happen if you warm a hypothermic victim too quickly?

Warming a hypothermic victim too quickly can lead to dangerous heart arrhythmias, which are irregular heartbeats that can disrupt the heart's normal function. When a person is hypothermic, their body temperature drops significantly. In this state, blood vessels constrict to conserve heat, and the heart may also become more sensitive to temperature changes. Rapid warming can cause blood vessels to dilate suddenly, leading to a swift drop in blood pressure and a potential overload of the heart with blood that was previously restricted. This sudden influx can disrupt the electrical signals that regulate heartbeats, resulting in serious arrhythmias, which in severe cases can lead to cardiac arrest.

Maintaining a gradual and controlled rewarming process is crucial to avoid such complications and to ensure the safety and health of the hypothermic individual.