There are a number of methods through which hypothermia is induced. These include: cooling catheters, cooling blankets, and application of ice applied around the body among others. As of 2013 it is unclear if one method is any better than the others. While cool intravenous fluid may be given to start the process, further methods are required to keep the person cold.
Core body temperature must be measured (either via the esophagus, rectum, bladder in those who are producing urine, or within the pulmonary artery) to guide cooling. A temperature below  should be avoided, as adverse events increase significantly. The person should be kept at the goal temperature plus or minus half a degree Celsius for 24 hours. Rewarming should be done slowly with suggested speeds of  per hour.
Targeted temperature management should be started as soon as possible. The goal temperature should be reached before 8 hours. Targeted temperature management remains partially effective even when initiated as long as 6 hours after collapse.
Prior to the induction of targeted temperature management, pharmacological agents to control shivering must be administered. When body temperature drops below a certain threshold—typically around —people may begin to shiver. It appears that regardless of the technique used to induce hypothermia, people begin to shiver when temperature drops below this threshold. Drugs commonly used to prevent and treat shivering in targeted temperature management include acetaminophen, buspirone, opioids including pethidine (meperidine), dexmedetomidine, fentanyl, and/or propofol.  If shivering is unable to be controlled with these drugs, patients are often placed under general anesthesia and/or are given paralytic medication like vecuronium.  People should be rewarmed slowly and steadily in order to avoid harmful spikes in intracranial pressure.