Surgical drapes employed with thermal treatment systems are re-enforced according to the present invention. This protects against punctures and tears when objects are placed in a receptacle formed by a drape within a thermal treatment system basin to contain a sterile medium. In one embodiment, a plate or pad is used to protect the drape. The plate or pad may be formed of rigid or flexible material of various configurations. The plate or pad may be solid or perforated (e.g., with holes, slots, mesh, etc.), and may be loosely placed on or fixedly attached to the drape. The plate or pad may have depending feet or protrusions that support the plate spaced above the drape material. Alternatively, the drape may be utilized without the plate and include a thick intermediate section resistant to puncture that is disposed within the thermal treatment system basin.