Where should heat packs be applied in the rewarming of a patient with mild hypothermia?

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Warming the core first is most effective. Placing heat packs on the neck, underarms, and groin targets the major vessels near the body’s central circulation, so the warmed blood quickly reaches the brain and other vital organs, raising core temperature efficiently and helping prevent the afterdrop that can happen if warming is limited to the extremities. Warming hands or feet alone mostly heats peripheral tissue and isn’t as helpful for core rewarming, and can even worsen heat loss if done without addressing the core. Always use a barrier between heat packs and skin to avoid burns.