What is the highest priority when confronted with a patient suffering from hypothermia?

The highest priority when confronted with a patient suffering from hypothermia is ensuring a patent airway. In any medical emergency, the immediate assessment of the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation (the ABCs) is fundamental to providing effective care.

A patient with hypothermia may have altered mental status, leading to an increased risk of airway obstruction due to decreased responsiveness or muscle control. If the airway is compromised, it significantly raises the risk of asphyxia or further deterioration of the patient’s condition.

While it is critical to remove wet clothing to improve thermal insulation and get the patient out of the cold environment to prevent further heat loss, these actions are secondary to ensuring that the airway is clear. Ensuring a patent airway is a life-saving immediate intervention that must be prioritized before addressing other factors related to the environment or clothing. It is essential to stabilize the patient before providing warmth and comfort to prevent potential complications from hypothermia.