Induced mild hypothermia has been shown to have beneficial effects in neuroprotective and cardioprotective modes. Current methods require either improvised cooling systems or invasive techniques. In order to simplify, and thereby deliver therapy as safely and as quickly as possible, a high-efficiency forced-air cooling system has been developed. A dynamic model was constructed from known physiology to demonstrate that external convective cooling can be effective despite normal thermoregulatory defense mechanisms. The model was validated on data obtained from four patients in an early trial of the device.