What term describes continued cooling during the rewarming process?

• A. Afterdrop
• B. Passive Rewarming
• C. Active Rewarming
• D. Heat Exhaustion

Answer: (A)

Afterdrop describes the continued fall in core temperature that can occur even as rewarming is started. When someone has been exposed to cold, the body constricts blood vessels in the skin and extremities to preserve core heat. Once rewarming begins, these peripheral vessels dilate and cold blood from the limbs can flow back toward the center. That return of cold blood can temporarily lower the core temperature further, even though warming efforts are underway. It’s a redistribution effect, not a failure of the rewarming process. This concept is distinct from passive rewarming (warming mainly by the surrounding environment) or active rewarming (using external heat sources), and it’s not related to heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion.