How to Prevent Hypothermia

Wilderness weather is notoriously fickle, and if you're not prepared you might risk losing vital body heat, a condition known as hypothermia. When venturing into the wilds, follow these simple steps to minimize the risk of hypothermia.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fleece Jackets
• Waterproof Hats
• Waterproof Jackets
• Waterproof Mittens
• Waterproof Pants
• Wicking Underwear
• Wool Sweaters
• Wilderness First Aid Classes
• First Aid Kits
• Low-reading Body Thermometers
• Waterproof Gloves
• Camp-stove Fuels
• Camping Cookwares
• Camping Stoves
• Sleeping Bags
• Sleeping Pads
• Waterproof jackets

1. Bring along, and have with you at all times, warm clothing: an inner "wicking" layer, a middle insulating layer, and an outer wind- and water-resistant layer, both for your upper and lower body. Be sure you also have gloves (or, better, mittens), a hat, and wool or thick fleece socks.

2. Turn around and seek shelter if the weather turns nasty, especially if you encounter snow, rain and/or strong winds. Wind and wetness will drain your body of heat with astonishing speed.

3. Drink a lot of water. This will help keep your entire system, including your brain, functioning well, and will help ensure an adequate blood flow to cold-prone extremities.

4. Eat plenty of food, especially carbohydrates, which are easy for your metabolism to turn into heat. Eat small amounts frequently rather than large amounts infrequently.

5. Set a reasonable pace: Exhaustion can make treatment, and even recognition, of hypothermia more difficult.

6. Keep an eye on each other for signs of hypothermia, and treat early (see related eHows on treating hypothermia).

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you have clothing that will not lose its insulating properties when wet. The primary offender is cotton; wool is much better, as are many kinds of synthetic fleece.
• When layering your clothing, make sure each layer is larger than the layer it's on top of: There should be about 1/4 inch of airspace between each two layers.
• Pack a small camp stove, along with fuel and at least one pot, in case another injury is involved and you can't move the hypothermic person. You may have to prepare warm liquids for him or her (see related eHows on treating hypothermia).
• Pack a tent, or at least a rain fly, in case you need to improvise an emergency shelter.
• Have along a sleeping pad and sleeping bag to insulate the hypothermic person from the ground and the surrounding air. A hot water bottle or two will aid in re-warming as well (see related eHows on treating hypothermia).
• Hypothermia can strike in any season, especially in the high country. Keep a close eye on the weather wherever you go in the wilderness, and adjust your plans as necessary to avoid risking hypothermia.
• Hypothermia can and does kill. Prevention is the best medicine!
• Avoid tight-fitting clothing - including footwear - which might impair circulation.
• Avoid alcohol, which could contribute to dehydration and impair judgment.
• Avoid caffeine and nicotine, which also exacerbate dehydration.
• This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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on 11/22/2005 Avoid going out into the cold unless the trip is necessary, this will ensure that you are at less of a risk from catching hypothermia.

on 11/22/2005 When it gets cold, breathing warm air helps considerably. A heat exchange facemask captures the energy and humidity when you exhale and returns the heat and moisture back to your body when you inhale. Your core body stays warm. Your hands and feet stay warm. Your face mask stays dry. Your lungs are protected from the cold.