Disclosed is a system and method for inducing therapeutic levels of hypothermia in a patient in the emergent care setting. The system consists of a small battery operated console and one or more garments. The garments are connected to the console by one or more umbilicals. The console provides cold fluid to the garments under pressure and the garment cools the surface of the body. Fluid returns from the garment back to the console in a closed loop fashion. The console contains an electrical battery and a thermal battery that provides operation of the system for more than one hour. The cooling capacity of the system is sufficient to induce therapeutic levels of hypothermia in approximately 30 to 90 minutes in most patients. Use of the system does not preclude any therapeutic or diagnostic interventions that are commonly performed in the emergent care setting.