Cold Weather Comfort and Safety

The most important thing to remember about cold weather camping is to KEEP DRY. Moisture will reduce the insulating properties of almost everything. To keep yourself warm, remember the word COLD.

* C keep yourself and your clothes Clean.
* O avoid Overheating.
* L wear clothes loose and in Layers.
* D keep Dry

The hints listed below are in a random manner. There is no order of importance to the list, just some suggestions that have proven true for me over the years.

CLOTHING

* Layer your clothing. Wear several layers of lighter clothing instead of one heavy layer. This way you can better regulate the amount of insulation. If you get warm you can take layers off and add some more clothing layers if you get cold.

*Keep yourself dry, both from the weather and perspiration.

*Wear loose fitting clothing, to optimize insulation.

*Remember when buying clothes for cold weather that wool retains most of its insulation properties when wet, while cotton looses most of its.

*Athletic shoes and nylon hiking boots do not provide enough insulation. You should wear either mukluks, water-proofed leather hiking boots, rubber overshoes or rubberized boots.

*Wear a pair of cotton and a pair of wool socks to increase insulation and take the perspiration way from your feet.

*Wear mittens instead of fingered gloves when you do not need independent use of your fingers. This will allow the fingers to help keep each other warm.

*Use a pair of socks to cover hands if mittens get wet.

*Wear a stocking cap or other warm hat. One that covers the ears and neck area is particularly effective. Remember, most heat loss is through the head. Wearing a warm hat warms the rest of your body, too.

*Wear a scarf to reduce heat loss around the neck. Use a "ski mask" or scarf over your face for protection from the cold and wind.

*In an emergency use your neckerchief to cover your ears.

COLD WEATHER FIRST AID

Dehydration is an excessive loss of body water and impairs the ability to reason, so the victim may not react properly.

Prevention:

* Drink at least 2 quarts of water a day.
* Avoid dehydrating foods (high protein) and fluids (coffee, caffeine).
* Increase fluid intake at first signs of darker yellow urine.

Symptoms:

1 to 5 % deficiency
* Increased pulse rate
* Nausea and loss of appetite
* Dark urine or constipation
* Irritability, fatigue
* Thirst

6 to 10 % deficiency
* Headache, dizziness
* Labored breathing
* Tingling
* Absence of salivation
* Inability to walk
* Cyanosis (bluish or grayish skin color)

* 11 to 20 % deficiency
* Swollen tongue, inability to swallow
* Dim vision, deafness
* Shriveled, numb skin
* Painful urination
* Delirium, unconsciousness and death

Treatment:

* Mild cases - drink liquids, keep warm.
* More severe cases require professional medical treatment.

Hypothermia occurs when the inner core temperature of the body is lowered. It can and usually does happen above freezing. The victim may not recognize the symptoms and may not be able to think clearly enough to react. Injury or death may result.

Predisposing Conditions:

* Poor physical condition.
* Inadequate nutrition and water intake.
* Thin build.
* Nonprotective clothing.
* Getting wet.
* Inadequate protection from wind, rain and snow.
* Exhaustion.

Symptoms:

* Loss of ability to reason.
* Shivering.
* Slowing, drowsiness, fatigue.
* Stumbling.
* Thickness of speech.
* Amnesia.
* Irrationality, poor judgment.
* Hallucinations.
* Cyanosis (blueness of skin).
* Dilation of pupils of eyes.
* Decreased heart and respiration rate.
* Stupor.

Treatment:

* Shelter the victim from wind and weather.
* Insulate the victim from the ground.
* Change wet clothing.
* Put on windproof, waterproof gear.
* Increase exercise, if possible.
* Put in a pre-warmed sleeping bag.
* Give hot drinks, followed by candy or other high-sugar foods.
* Apply external heat; hot stones, hot canteens.
* Huddle for body heat from others.
* Place victim in a tub of 105º F water. Never above 110º F.

Prevention:

* Keep rested, maintain good nutrition.
* Consume plenty of high-energy food.
* Use proper clothing.
* Make camp early if tired, injured or lost.
* Get plenty of exercise. Don't sit around much.
* Appoint an experienced person to watch the group for signs.
* Take immediate corrective action for any signs.