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Hypothermia: How to Stay Warm When Losing Body Heat

 Original Article:

https://www.survivopedia.com/hypothermia-how-to-stay-warm-when-losing-body-heat/

By 

By Bob Rodgers

During the winter season, you will read about motorists that got stuck in snowdrifts and lose their lives.

The same fate awaits the outdoor enthusiast, prepper, or seasonal camper who gets caught unprepared by an early winter storm. The saddest thing is that many people succumb a few miles away from camp.

Some of the fatalities reported over the last twenty years were not even the result of the winter’s blizzards or the challenging living conditions. Deaths occurred during times when the temperature was well above the freezing point. The main culprit in these cases was hypothermia.

This article should provide you with all the knowledge needed to prevent body heat loss during your trips out in nature. You should be aware that hypothermia occurs not only in cold regions, but there’s also mild weather hypothermia in environments with temperatures between 30- and 60- degrees F.

Once you understand how your body produces heat and how it loses the stored heat, you should take all the precautionary measures.

The dangers of hypothermia

One of the most common mistakes some outdoor enthusiasts and wilderness explorers make is not understanding the hypothermia process and how it can affect the human body. Some victims had suitable clothing for the season, yet they didn’t maintain a steady body temperature.

They removed various layers and allowed their bodies to cool down without being aware that their mistakes would put them in a dire situation. By the time they understood that they would not recapture the lost warmth, it was already too late. Hypothermia has already sneaked in.

What is this hypothermia condition, and how can it kill you even in moderate climates?

Back in the old days, people “froze to death” in sub-zero temperatures, and when the temperature was way above the freezing point, the most used phrase was “..death by exposure”.

Even if some folks froze to death while others due to cold exposure, the cause of death was always the same, hypothermia. That is when the body temperature falls below 98.6 degrees F, and it stays below normal for extended periods.

The mechanics of hypothermia are relatively simple, and the moment your body starts to lose heat faster than it can keep from the environment or manufacture, it’s usually the starting point when hypothermia starts to develop.

There are two main things that survivalists need to do to prevent hypothermia. One is to supply your body with constant food, which provides fuel for your body, and the second is to allow the excess heat to leave your body, nothing more, nothing less.

While you can carry food in your bug out bag and energize your body at regular hours, the staying warm part is a little bit more complicated.

Staying warm when hypothermia sets in is complicated, and it requires much more effort and heat to get it back above the average body temperature. The momentum hypothermia creates is difficult to reverse since the victim is not aware of it. When you become aware, as previously said, it’s probably too late.

Suppose you look at the world map and identify suitable regions for someone to experience hypothermia. In such a case, you will point to the landmasses that are more susceptible to cold temperatures. You will not pick the tropical lands since we humans feel more comfortable in tropical climates.

Your reasoning for choosing colder regions might be logical. Still, you will be surprised to find out that most of the tropical lands you left aside can also provide a deadly dose of hypothermia.

That can occur during the night or at high elevations, regardless if you find yourself in Minnesota or Hawaii. This knowledge alone can save you from disaster, and it will provide valuable preparation lessons for surviving the cold.

When body temperature drops, it starts a specific self-defense mechanism. The blood vessels of your skin will begin to close as the body’s primary function is to protect the central core (heart, lungs, livers).

The body will sacrifice the extremities to send more blood to its core; thus, your toes and fingers will get numb, which leads to frostbites. If you don’t do something to warm them up, you may end up losing any body part affected by frostbite.

Hypothermia poses an even bigger problem to those suffering from pre-existing health conditions. As your start to get cold, every cell of your body will operate at half capacity, which will affect various organs, leading to poor health.

For example, suppose you are fighting an infection and are unaware that hypothermia is setting in. In that case, your body’s defense will become too weak to fight said infection since it now struggles to get warm.

We need to know how our body controls its temperature, how it produces heat, and how to prevent hypothermia.

How does your body control its temperature?

There are three basic processes through which your body regulates its internal temperature. These are respiration, evaporation, and radiation.

As you breathe, you expel hot air from your lungs and get an intake of fresh, colder air. In case your body produces more heat than it uses, you will sweat. This process helps cooling down your body since the moisture from your body also draws out the heat. Your skin also helps cool down the body, and every blood vessel on your skin will radiate heat into the air once the body starts to overheat.

Keep in mind that your head is the part that radiates heat the most. At high elevations, it is mandatory to protect your head and face.

These processes are beneficial for keeping your body at a stable temperature, but at the same time, they can also release more heat than needed.

How is body heat produced?

There is an involuntary and a voluntary process that helps your body produce more heat. The involuntary one is a chemical, metabolic process, and it occurs when you fuel your body with food. As your body breaks down the food, it produces energy, known in simple terms as burning calories.

Now, the caloric intake you need is the tricky part. You can burn 2,000 calories during a pleasant walk out in nature, and you can replace those calories with a few light meals or snacks.

However, those living and working in colder regions may require more than 6,000 per day, depending on their activity. Maintaining such a high level of calorie intake requires a special diet. One with an increased number of calories and the daily nutritional requirements (vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids).

Besides the food intake, you must also ensure a fair amount of liquid intake to hydrate your body. There are some dangerous myths about using various beverages to keep your body warm and hydrated. People drink alcohol or hot coffee to get warm, but these two drinks do more harm than good.

Alcohol will make you feel warm when consuming it but will also draw heat away from the body. The liver will use more energy, trying to decompose the alcohol, which will draw heat from other organs.

As for coffee, you should know that caffeine is a mild vasodilator. Instead of shrinking to prevent the heat from escaping, the blood vessels from your skin will do the opposite. You may indeed gain some energy from drinking coffee, but you will lose heat the more coffee your drink.

Your best bet would be to stick to warm water and tea, and hot chocolate. For example, I drink hot chocolate during my winter camping sessions and I add a teaspoon of coconut oil mixed with chili flakes. There’s nothing better to warm your body, and I advise trying such a beverage when exploring the great outdoors during the winter season.

The voluntary process is the stimulation of muscles or, simply put, exercising. Any activity that gets your muscles working will produce heat, and you can control the heat production by doing various activities. For example, walking can double your heat production, while a short but intense exercising session will raise your energy level up to 10 times.

How can you prevent hypothermia?

As stated before, the three basic processes that help your body regulate temperature can also lead to severe body heat loss. But those are not the only things you have to worry about. Conduction and convection are the two other things you should pay attention to.

The heat flowing through your body can pass to the surrounding environment. When you sleep on the ground or take a cold bath, conduction occurs, and your body loses heat faster than it can replace.

The same thing goes with convection, and the heat radiated from your body that makes a protective shield around your skin can be replaced by moving cold air. That heat layer will have to be replaced continually, and faster air movement leads to a more significant heat loss.

That means one thing, and that’s making sure you’re always putting a protective layer between your body and cold objects.

Always add padding on the ground when improvising a shelter, and don’t get in contact when you’re crossing a river or stream using a boat. Your feet must be protected at all times since these body parts are in constant contact with the ground. It would be best if you had a pair of proper boots and a few pairs of socks when exploring the great outdoors.

When it comes to convection, you must prevent the wind from blowing away heat from your body. That means you need to wear windproof clothing, and you should always put a layer of protection between you and the wind, especially when you set up camp.

Another thing that is often ignored is the breathing process. This process helps regulate body temperature by releasing hot air from the core (lungs). That’s why you often blow on your hands to warm them up during a chilly evening. However, the breathing process is a double-edged sword since the more air you breathe, the more heat you end up losing.

Besides pacing yourself to reduce breathing intensity when exploring the great outdoors, you should also wear something to cover your mouth and nose. Even more, some survival experts recommend breathing only through your nose since the hair in your nostrils can also help warm the air you breathe in.

Sudden Freezes: The Cascading Problems they Cause

 Original Article:

https://www.survivopedia.com/sudden-freezes-the-cascading-problems-they-cause/

By 

By Bill White

The arctic blast that blanketed the United States has hit Texas particularly hard. Being a warm state, Texas doesn’t see much cold weather.

Yet this particular cold front has broken all records, with below-freezing weather for five days in a row. That sudden cold spell has caused cascading problems, starting with power outages. Being a citizen of Texas, I had a front-row seat. 

Power outages during extreme weather events are not uncommon. Our aging electrical grid is hit the hardest by any severe weather, from ice to wind. Power companies nationwide are well-versed in emergency repairs, trying to get the power back on for people. Even so, the incidence of major power outages has been on the increase for over a decade, with weather events being the leading cause of those outages. 

Best Way to Layer Clothes for Outdoor Warmth?

 Original Article:

https://www.survivalsullivan.com/layering-clothes-for-outdoors/

By Tom Marlowe

Staying warm in cold weather is one thing, but staying warm while retaining the capability to put in strenuous work and properly regulate your temperature for the long haul is another.

Dressing appropriately is essential for best performance in cold weather, and that means you’ll need to choose the right materials and also put your clothes on in the right order, a process known as layering.

How do you properly layer clothing for warmth in cold weather? Proper layering consists of a moisture wicking innermost layer, a warm air-retaining mid layer or mid layers, and a wind- and weatherproof outer shell. Additional equipment includes climate appropriate headwear, footwear and gloves or mittens.

This approach will keep you warm, and also allow you to regulate your temperature as the situation dictates.

Cold injuries: Treatment and procedures

 Original Article

https://www.survivopedia.com/cold-injuries-treatment-and-procedures/

By Bob Rodgers

I’m one of the people that loves spending time in nature regardless of the season. I find the winter months to be delightful when spending time exploring the great outdoors. 

The white scenery provides a relaxing feeling, and the satisfaction of setting up a cozy shelter is hard to explain in plain words. However, winter does have its challenges, and one of the first things I had to learn is that exposure to cold can shorten my camping trips. 

There’s nothing worse than being exposed to cold in a survival scenario, and it’s one of the situations that leads to serious medical problems that you should know how to deal with. The management of cold injuries should be one of your main priorities is you spend an extended amount of time outdoors during the colder months of the year. Even more, you should spend time training on how to treat such injuries if you live in a cold climate. 

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Safe Winter Driving Tips Everyone Should Know

 Original Article:

https://prepperswill.com/safe-winter-driving-tips-everyone-should-know/

by Bob Rodgers

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, Americans average more than six million vehicle crashes every year. Of those, nearly a quarter, or more than 1.5 million, are weather-related, defined as a crash occurring due to impaired visibility from rain, sleet, snow, fog, or on roadways covered in rain, snow, or ice.

Casualties in weather-related crashes count more than 7,100 people killed and 629,000 injured. Financial damages from these accidents add up to millions of dollars.

By the nature of my job, I travel a lot and on a near-monthly basis find myself driving the 2½ hours to the nearest airport. I’ve made this and other trips in all manner of road conditions, from hot and dry to near-zero visibility. Call it brave or stupid, and I often push the edge of what kinds of conditions I find myself driving in.

To ensure I get there and back safely, I tracked down an old friend, Robert, who’s working at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School, to get some safe winter driving tips on how to drive on snow and ice. Here’s what he said.

5 Ways Your Body Loses Heat and How to Avoid Them

Original Article

from PreppingToSurvive.com by Joe

The air is crisp, crystalizing around you with each breath. A twig snaps under the pressure of your foot, echoing off the surrounding trees. It’s a brisk, beautiful late autumn morning. It’s great to be in God’s creation.

But for the ill-equipped traveler thrust into survival mode due to mechanical issues with his vehicle, the same picturesque morning can be cold, hard, unforgiving, and even life-threatening.

The right gear makes a world of difference. So what’s the right gear? In previous article, I’ve written about the best way to dress for cold weather. In this post, I’ll share the 5 ways your body looses heat. Understanding these methods can help you to reduce your heat loss and stay warm longer.

Heat Loss Through Radiation

As warm blooded beings, people produce their own heat. By just being alive, we create a normal body temperature of 98.6F. Most the time that’s warmer than our surrounding environment, so the two try to equalize. Our body gives off heat through radiation. That’s when the warmer of the two areas gives off heat to the cooler area.

To control heat loss through radiation, we need to insulate the ourselves from the surrounding environment. We can do this through warm clothing.

A down jacket, for instance, uses our body heat to warm the pockets of air trapped in the down. That helps keep the heat inside the jacket and thus keep us warm.

Your head is a major source of heat loss. Keeping your head covered, and the area around your neck can help preserve your heat.

Heat Loss Through Conduction

Another way our bodies loose heat is by coming into direct contact with another surface that is at a lower temperature. It’s similar to radiation except rather than loosing heat to the environment, the heat is transferred to another object or surface.

Solid objects such as a metal pole or the ground can steal heat from your body much more effectively than air. In fact, you loose heat about 30 times faster when submerged in water than standing in air. 75F in air feels comfortable; 75F in water is feels cold and can cause hypothermia.

Conduction is why it’s important to insulate yourself from the ground when sleeping. Body heat will seep into the cold ground, leaving you cold and miserable. Sleeping on evergreen boughs will help lift you off the ground and preserve your body temperature.

Heat Loss Through Convection

As with radiation, convection is when your body looses heat to the surrounding environment. However, with convection, the heat loss is through the stirring of the air.

Consider a fan. When you are sitting in your home and you’re a little warm, you may turn on a fan to help circulate the air. The moving air brushes by your skin. When it does, it takes a little bit of your heat with it. Then, having moved along, more air brushes by, taking more of your heat. The more air, or wind, the more heat loss.

This is sometimes called “wind chill” and it can be devastating for the survivor in colder climates.

When dressing during cold weather, it’s important to keep in mind that your outer layer of clothing should protect you from the wind.

Heat Loss Through Evaporation

Our bodies have a built in system to help regulate excess heat. When we exert ourselves and our core body temperature rises, we begin to sweat. On a hot summer day, sweating is a good thing. In fact when you stop sweating, you should be worried about overheating.

However in the winter, sweating is bad. In fact it can be deadly. As renowned survivalist Les Stroud has said, “In cold weather if you sweat, you die.” But the threat is not limited to sweating. In cold weather survival situations, you must stay dry. Rain, mist, snow, and other forms of liquid will have the same effect is sweating.

When water, including sweat, evaporates it cools the adjacent surface. When that surface is your skin, it removes much needed heat from your body and makes it harder to stay warm.

In cold weather, you must stay dry. Having the proper clothing is important. Avoid overexertion. Regulate your body temperature to avoid sweating by removing layers of clothing when you do strenuous activities. Stay dry.

Heat Loss Through Respiration

When you breathe, you were bringing in cold air from the outside into your lungs. As oxygen is transferred to your bloodstream and carbon dioxide is transferred out, your body warms the air. When you exhale, you’re releasing the warmed air into the surrounding environment. That is heat loss through respiration.

Compared to the first four sources, heat loss through respiration is relatively minor. But still you should be aware of it. A light covering over your face will help pre-warm some of the air before bringing it into your lungs.

Summary

As fall is giving way to winter, it’s important to understand how our bodies can lose heat and how to avoid it. Hopefully if you’re thrust into a survival situation, you’ll have the proper clothing and gear. But being prepared is as much about knowledge and skills as it is about gear.

Related Posts

• Winter Driving: Be Prepared for the Unexpected
• Why Garbage Bags Should Be in Your Survival Kit
• Is Anything More Important than Fire?
• 5 Tips to Improve Your Cold Weather Survival Shelter

How to Stay Warm When the Power Goes Out

Original Article

from Code Name Insight by Code Name Insight

It's been a long, cold two weeks for some folks on Long Island.  Besides living in a disaster zone, they haven't had power for two weeks and while it isn't such a big problem when you decide to go without heat for an extended period of time for say, a hunting trip or an extended backpacking trip, when you are forced by circumstance to endure such a hardship, there aren't enough negative adjectives to describe the misery people can feel when it is as cold inside their house as it is outside.  Here's some ways to keep warm when the power goes out:

• Obviously having a wood stove (best) or fireplace (distant second) in your home is your best option.  A wood stove can keep at least one room of your home toasty warm and you can usually cook and heat water on top of it as well.  Having a good supply of firewood is also advisable.
• I keep a kerosene heater with extra kerosene on hand as one of my alternative heat sources.  You will want to make sure the room you use this heater in is ventilated to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.  
• If you can heat water (on top of your wood stove, outside on your camp stove, or if you have a gas hot water tank) a hot bath or shower will warm you up in a jiffy.
• Layers of clothing can help to keep you warm.  Yes, you may feel like the Michelin Man but having multiple layers of clothing (instead of one thick layer) will help you retain body heat.
• Add all of the other goodies you would as if you were going skiing: hat, neck warmer, ear muffs, gloves, heavy socks, insulated boots, etc.  Note that sleeping with thick socks and a hat on can keep you warm and toasty at night.
• A generator can be a good option if you have the fuel for it.  I am guessing that fuel became an issue a few days into the event since 1) most people don't think a power outage will last very long, and 2) most people also don't usually store enough fuel to keep their generator running for weeks on end.
• Sometimes one side of the street will have power and the other won't.  In this case a good relationship with your neighbor who has power plus a long extension cord plus a space heater can do wonders.
• Bring on the blankets.  Probably the oldest idea in heating without external assistance is to wrap up in a blanket...or two...or three.  This is an excellent reason to invest in a 0 degree down sleeping bag.
• Sleep together.  Body heat generated by three or four bodies is better than body heat generated by one body.  There's a reason you see five or six people cuddled up together to sleep on the TV show 'Survivor'--it's warmer that way.
• Consider a hot water bottle or hot bricks.  This was common before modern heating was invented.  Heat water and put it in a hot water bottle or heat bricks/stones and wrap them in burlap then hold these items next to you under your blankets (I put them on my feet) and you will become instantly warm.  Note in a survival situation, peeing in a bottle then holding the bottle next to you is a tried and true survival trick--98.6 degrees can be cuddly warm when you are freezing.
• Chemical hand warmers are also nice.  Expensive, but nice.  These little packets generate instant heat but like hot water bottles and hot bricks, you will want to wrap the warmer in cloth and not stick it right next to your skin.
• Go somewhere that there is heat.  One reason the mall and the library and community cold weather shelters fill up on freezing days is that the homeless tend to go where it is warm.  If you live close enough to go to a place that has power and central heating (mall, library, coffee shop, etc) then do so. Even being warm all day can make freezing nights bearable.
• If you have the option (read: money) and the will to leave the area and stay at a hotel until the power comes back on (or even just sending the family while you stay to guard the house) that may be a best option (especially if you have small children or the elderly living in your home).   
• Make one small room of your home the "warm room".  Seal off the doors and windows of this room and live in only this room until the power comes back on.  With everyone in one room covered in warm clothes and blankets the temperature in the room will rise.
• Use candles to light up your warm room as these will also give off heat (be careful--candles are a big fire hazard).
• Work with the sun to heat your home.  Open window blinds in the morning to let the sun in and close the blinds (preferably heavy drapes) when the sun goes down to keep the cold air out.
• Break out the camp stove and keep the family in warm beverages--this can help warm your body from the inside out.
• Eat and drink more than usual since your body will burn more calories when it is cold than when it is at ambient temperatures.  Also, fatty foods are a good thing in this situation.
• Exercise.  Do some jumping jacks or other exercises to generate more body heat. 

And a couple of warnings:  know the symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite.  If someone is suffering from these symptoms, get them medical attention ASAP.  Also, beware the danger of death by carbon monoxide poisoning.  Using combustive appliances indoors (basically anything that generates fire like a camp stove, barbecue grill, etc) can cause carbon monoxide to build up and you will probably pass out and die before you know what hit you as CO is odorless and colorless so use these appliances in a well ventilated area.

Are You Ready Series: Snow Hurricane

Original Article

from Ready Nutrition by Tess Pennington

This is Why We Prepare
Storms come on suddenly and have the possibility of turning into monsters.  If a person is not adequately prepared, they are gambling with their lives.  Prior to any type of disaster, a person should have at least two weeks of food, water and short term disaster supplies in their home for a unforeseen disaster.  The aftermath of this storm has the possibility of road blocks due to the snow and flooding coastal water.  If the roads are blocked, food and supplies will not be able to make it’s way into the disaster prone area until the snow and ice melt away as well as the downed power lines and debris are removed from the road.
On Februrary 9, 2010 the Northeast was hit with a major snow storm. This is what the store shelves looked like then.

Source

Let’s hope that many will be more prepared with this round of storms.  Although, this author has not endured a snow hurricane, per se, she has gone through multiple tropical hurricanes.  The need to be prepared for disasters is vital.  A person who waits until the last minute to gather supplies will be one who walks away unprepared and may be lucky enough to leave with a few picked over items.
Those that are not prepared should equip themselves with supplies and as much knowledge about the storm they will be experiencing as possible, prior to it occurring.  Although a snow hurricane is rare in some cases, it does happen.  Those living in the Northeast are typically used to winter storms, but not the severity of this type.

Suggestions for Preparing for a Severe Winter Storm

• Have an emergency plan in place with emergency contacts on alert in the case that a person needs to evacuate their home.  If damage to the home makes in uninhabitable, evacuate to a pre-planned friend or neighbor who may be near by.
• Have some winter disaster supplies in the home such as: candles, matches/lighters, a battery operated radio, emergency food supplies, water, extra blankets, toilet paper, prescription medicines, over the counter medicines, a non electric can opener, infant/baby needs if a child is in the home.
• Be prepared for the power to go out.  Be prepared for this set back by having alternative power and heating sources to go along with the extra blankets.  Having an emergency generator with extra gasoline could be a life saver in this situation.
• Avoid traveling in a blizzard.  If a person is on the road when a blizzard hits, look for a hotel nearby and stay off the road until there are better road conditions.
• Have a 72 hour bag in the vehicle with lots of warm insulated clothing in the case that a person is stranded in their car during a blizzard. Additionally, having an extra supply of gasoline in the car would also be a good idea.
• If a person is stranded in the car, do not leave the engine running to keep warm.  Snow can block the exhaust pipe and fill with the car with fumes, thus causing carbon monoxide poisoning.  Keep one window open just a bit to avoid this.  Run the car in short bursts to avoid running out of gas.  Turn the engine on long enough to keep the car warm and then turn it off.
• Stock up on shovels and snow removal equipment prior to the storm.
• Additionally, those who were not hit with the blinding snow flurries, but were effected by coastal water flooding, should read over guidelines for emergency flooding and know what to avoid.
• Stay inside and stay warm!  The winds from this type of storm are going to be extremely dangerous.  Snow drift can be a problem after a storm of this magnitude.  Additionally, frostbite will be a major concern so a good rule of thumb is to keep everyone inside and warm until the threat is over.
• If a person must go outside, they should use the layered principle when dressing for the outdoors.

Some additional winter storm resources are:

• Before a Winter Storm
• During a Winter Storm
• After a Winter Storm

Best of luck to those that are going through these torrential storm systems.  Stay warm and stay prepared!

Related Reading:

• Use the Snow Storm As a Test Run For the Real Thing
• Cold Weather Preparedness
• Are You Ready Series: Hurricane Preparedness
• Are You Ready Series: Floods and Flash Flooding
• Hurricane Survival

Winter Prepping

Original Article

from Patriots Against The NWO by Pete Smith

WINTER PREPPING

By Jacques Farnsworth in American Preppers, Survivalists, & Off The Grid Life

ONE ISSUE TO PREP FOR NOW, IS WINTER:

* WINTERIZE YOUR HOME. INSULATE YOUR PIPES AND YOUR HOME, AND YOUR WATER SOURCES. CLEAN AND SEAL AND REPAIR YOUR CHIMNEY PIPES AND FLUES. INSURE YOUR HVAC VENTS AND SYSTEM'S ARE CLEAN IN GOOD REPAIR.

* WINTERIZE YOUR VEHICLE,GET SNOW TIRES AND NEW CHAINS.

* STORE UP AT LEAST 30 DAYS OF FOOD THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COOK.

* GET AT LEAST 5 CORDS OF WOOD PLUS WHAT YOU NORMALLY USE FOR YOUR WINTER USE, IF YOU HAVE A WOOD BURNING STOVE.

* TOP OFF YOUR PROPANE TANKS, THE BIG ONE AND THE SMALL ONES.

* GO THROUGH YOUR WINTER CLOTHES, MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE IN GOOD REPAIR, BUY EXTRA WOOL SOCKS AND WINTER UNDERWEAR IF NEEDED.

* GET YOUR ROOT CELLAR CLEANED OUT AND STOCKED.

* GET YOUR SOUP AND STEW RECIPES OUT AND READY TO USE.

* STOCK YOUR FREEZERS WITH GAME AND EXTRA MEAT.

* INSURE THAT YOUR ROOF IS REPAIRED.

* GET A SMALL SNOW BLOWER, AND SNOW SHOVELS.

* STOCK UP ON EXTRA FOOD FOR YOUR ANIMALS.

* TENT YOUR GARDENS WITH PLASTIC SHEETING.

* WINTERIZE YOUR GREENHOUSE.

* WINTERIZE YOUR ANIMAL SHEDS, PENS, COOPS, ETC. INSULATE AND GET A SAFE HEATING SYSTEM IN PLACE IF YOU LIVE IN AREA'S WHERE SUPER COLD WEATHER IS A FACTOR.

* BUY EXTRA WOOL BLANKETS

* GET YOUR BOARD GAMES OUT AND READY FOR USE.

* HAVE LEAST $1000.00 EMERGENCY CASH ON HAND.

* GET OUT YOUR EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS.

* STOCK UP ON AT LEAST 30 DAYS OF NEEDED MEDICATIONS ON HAND.

* RESTOCK YOUR FIRST - AID KITS AND EMERGENCY KITS.

* TRIM THE TREE'S AROUND YOUR HOME FOR ANY OVER HANGING BRANCHES THAT CAN FREEZE AND FALL ON YOUR HOME OR PERSONS AROUND OR IN YOUR HOME.

When is it too cold to stay home?

Original Article

from Perpetual Preparedness by Gary W Kibble

How low can you go?

- lyrics to "Limbo Rock"

I was asked yesterday, "If a house is without heat, at what temperature does it become unsafe to stay?" Or to put it another way, "At what temperature should one evacuate a home?"

I've searched the Internet and found nothing useful so I'm hoping that some reader can provide an answer. One site said that temperatures below 70 F can be dangerous (to the elderly perhaps???) if no protection is taken (like a sweater?). That seems way too extreme. At my home in winter, I'm lucky if I can convince the wife to set the thermostat up to 63 F. It's often 60 by day and 55 at night. For me 63 F is tolerable with layered clothing but below that my fingers become chilled.

When we lost power with the Halloween Nor'Easter we put on coats and hats and did OK for awhile as the temperature fell over several days. At 40 F we were becoming concerned but then the power was restored.

A site on wind chill said that -20 F was "dangerous". It may be true that even brief exposure to -20 F is dangerous but what about prolonged exposure? Someplace else warned about 30 F and below.  At that temperature you must to take active precautions to prevent your extremities from freezing with frostbite but it is survivable. When I attended an igloo making class the instructor warned against overheating the inside of the igloo. If the temperature got above 32 F the igloo would melt from the inside-out. So igloo dwellers must cope with the 30-32 F range.

Bottom Line

There might not be one simple answer. Temperature tolerance does depend on age and health and body fat. Still it would be nice to know how low is safe?

Top Tips for Driving in Winter Storms

Original Article

from Emergency Food Storage - Emergency Preparedness Guide by Tyler Barnes

Almost anyone who has ever driven in the snow should be familiar with the queasy feeling you get when you try to stop and begin to skid towards a curb or car.  Driving in snow is something that is best avoided, but often unavoidable at some point during the winter.  As we approach the snow season, we felt that a few tips for safety on the roads would be helpful for all to review and be reminded of.
The best tip we can share is probably the most fun; find an empty, open parking lot after the first big snow of the year and spin some donuts!  While this doesn’t sound like the type of thing you would tell your teenage driver to do, it can be very helpful to learn how your car handles in the snow.  Learning how to spin the car and recover from spins is one of the best ways to be prepared while driving on the road.  Still use caution while you are practicing and be aware of light poles, hidden objects, or curbs.

Now, when driving on icy or snowy roads, remember the following tips and best practices:

1. Slow Down – Be very cognizant of your speeds on the road and keep three times the normal distance between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake Gently – Never slam on the brakes, if you can avoid it.  If your wheels lock up, ease up on the brake
3. Lights On – Make sure that you have your lights on so that others are aware of you
4. Low Gears – Use the lower gears, they help to gain and keep traction, especially on hills or steep roads
5. No Cruise Control – Don’t be lazy, it isn’t worth the risk.
6. Stay Behind the Plows – Don’t pass in front of plows or sanding trucks.  The drivers of these vehicles have limited visibility and the road in front of them is much worse than behind them.
7. 4×4 Myth – Just because you have a 4×4 or AWD, you vehicle cannot handle all conditions.  Be extremely careful thinking you can go anywhere or do anything in your big, off-road truck!

If your wheels skid…

1. Let Off the Gas – Take you foot off of the accelerator.
2. Turn Into the Slide – If you are sliding left, turn left. As you recover, you may start to slide to the other side, so make sure that you know steer the new directions.  You may go back and forth a couple of times before you can get back under control.
3. Brake! – If you have standard brakes, gently pump them.  If your car has anti-lock brakes (ABS), don’t pump the brakes.  Apply steady pressure and realize that it is normal to feel the brakes pulse.

If you get stuck…

1. Don’t Spin the Wheels – This only digs you in deeper and makes is harder to get out. Lightly touch on the gas and ease your way out.
2. Turn the Wheels – Turn the wheels back and forth to get snow out of the way. Also, consider using a shovel to dig out some of the snow.
3. Rock the Boat – Sometimes, it can help to rock back and forth to gain a little momentum.
4. Sand the Ground – A little sand, gravel, salt, even kitty litter, can help your wheels gain some traction.

Winter Emergency Preparedness comes in all forms, and being ready for the winter road conditions counts.  The above information comes from the National Safety Council and Weather.com, so please listen to it.  We hope that no one has any issues this year on the winter roads.  Please be extra careful and remember so of these basic tips to keep safe. Emergency Preparedness tips need to be shared, so please pass this along to your friends, family, and neighbors so that we all can have a fantastic winter.

Winter Driving Tips

Original Article

from Patriots Against The NWO by Pete Smith

                        10 Winter driving tips

1.  The safest tires are studded mud and snow (M/S) tires on all four
    wheels.  Some states do not permit studded tires, so check with your
    local dealer.
2.  Carry emergency clothing in the car.  A stocking cap, snow boots,
    mittens, a pair of coveralls, and a blaze orange vest so you will be
    seen if you have to walk.
3.  If you get stuck, kitty litter is a good way to get traction under your
    wheels.  Carry the litter in a couple of gallon plastic milk jugs.
    Sand and dirt are ok too, but they freeze solid if any moisture
    collects on them.  Some people carry metal treads, but you have to stop
    and go back for them.  Some carry a few evergreen branches.
4.  When driving on ice, always try to drive with 2 tires on the right
    shoulder of the road.  It is usually gravel, and provides better
    traction than the smooth streets or highways.  This won't work if there
    is snow.
5.  Plan your route to avoid stop signs and lights on the top of a hill.
    People spin their wheels to get started and this creates a bed of ice.
6.  To get home safely, you have to be able to see.  Every November 1st,
    buy and install a new set of wiper blades.  This is cheap insurance.
7.  Sometimes you will want a cold windshield, and sometimes you will want
    a warm windshield.  If it's raining and ice is forming on the car, you
    want a warm windshield to melt the ice and let the wipers work.  If
    it's cold and snowing, you want the windshield cold so the snow won't
    stick, and will just blow off with the wind and wipers..
8.  If you get stopped on and uphill slope, try this to get started again.
    Manual transmissions, take off in second gear.  Try to get rolling as
    slowly as possible, if you can, get started without even using the gas
    pedal.  Automatics, it's even easier.  Never, ever, spin your wheels,
    just take off as slowly as possible.  Spinning heats up the tires and
    just handicaps you further.  If you can get rolling those first few
    inches, you can keep rolling.
9.  If it's snowing or blowing, put on your lights.  If there's a blizzard,
    put on your flashers.
10. Chains are best.  They give more traction than anything else.  Put a
    set of chains on the two driving tires, or better yet, keep a spare
    pair of tires in the trunk with chains on them.  It's lots easier to
    change 2 tires than it is to install chains in the snow and muck.
    Plus, the chains on the spares are fiddle string tight, so they won't
    hammer the bottom of your car.

                            EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST

Long Handled Snow Brush         
Ice Scraper
Jumper Cables                         
Rags To Clean Slush Off Lights
Chains                                
Kitty Litter (see #3)
Flashlight, with extra batteries      
HELP sign
Work Gloves                           
Emergency Clothes (see #2)
Extra caps and mittens for passengers
Car BOB(Bug Out Bag) With you survival gear in it!!!!

Though not mentioned in the ASG article, there is another tool that I would
not be without during winter driving, or summer for that matter.  It is
commonly referred to as a Come-along winch.  These are hand operated devices
that can lift a ton about 8 to 12 feet.  And yes Martha, most cars weigh
considerabley more than a ton, but most of the time, you're not lifting them
straight up either.  They are available in hardware stores for $45-$75
With one of these winches and some chain, or aircraft cable, you can winch
yourself out of just about any situation.  It's not as pretty, or as fast as
the pretty winches on the big jeeps, but you can bet it's several hundred
dollars less expensive too.

Dressing For Cold Weather

Original Article

from PreppingToSurvive.com by Joe

As fall begins to give way to winter, the temperatures outside begin to dip down making it the perfect time of year for a nice bonfire with your friends. Roasting marshmallows, cooking hotdogs on sticks over the open flames, and sipping warm apple cider reminds me of scenes from Norman Rockwell paintings.

At home when things are well, the cooler weather can make for wonderful times, however in other circumstances a cold evening can be harsh and unforgiving. For the well-meaning day-hiker who has lost his way and will not make it out before nightfall, the dramatically cooler temperatures of fall weather will make for a long evening.
The Three W’s of Layering
When venturing out for a hiking or backpacking trip, proper clothing can mean the difference between a fun and enjoyable excursion and a cold and unpleasant time in the woods. (And this isn’t limited to hiking, the same is true for watching a football game or sailing on the open seas.)
Dressing properly for cooler weather provides you with the flexibility to adapt to the weather. Breezy with a light sprinkle of rain? No problem. Sunny but chilly? Got it covered. The key is layers.

The best dressed person venturing into the outdoors will have the three layers sometimes referred to as the Three W’s of Layering.

Wicking

The inner most layer, the layer that is closest to your skin, should be made of a material that allows moisture (aka sweat) to be wicked away from your skin. Cotton and other such fabrics retain the moisture and keeps it next to you. During the daytime, this can be an annoyance; at night it can cause you to chill, or worse become hypothermic, as the moisture evaporates and accelerates the loss of your body heat.
A good wicking or “high performance” undershirt will help draw the moisture away from your skin. Paradoxically, this will help keep you cooler during the hot summer days yet will also help you to remain warmer during the cold winter nights.

Warmth

The middle layer of the three w’s of layering is for warmth. There are lots of good options for this layer. New blended fabrics can be lightweight yet provide incredible warmth. Fleeces can be a good option as well.
One traditional fabric, wool, can be an excellent choice for this middle layer. Although it’s not as light as some of the newer man-made alternatives, wool has one characteristic that sets it apart and makes it a great option for the warmth layer: wool retains 80% of its insulating value when it’s soaking wet. That means when wet, wool can still keep you warm. Few, if any, other materials do that. Wool also can absorb up to 30% of its weight in water and still feel dry. It’s also durable and flame resistant.

Wind

The outer most layer in your cold weather clothing system should provide protection from the wind. You don’t have to understand the specifics behind what the weatherman calls Wind-Chill or Feels-Like temperature to understand the a breeze can make it feel colder than it really is.
Technically this is due to convective heat loss. The air blowing by your skin, even through clothing, makes it easier for the water molecules to evaporate and that cools you off. In the summertime, that works to our advantage. We sweat, the wind blows, water evaporates, and we cool off. In the winter, this process works against us.
Preventing wind from reaching your skin will help to keep you warm.

Three Layers Are Better Than One

Early in my camping career, I embarked on a winter backpacking excursion that was to last only three days. It was supposed to get cold and I naively packed a set of insulated coveralls as my primary source of warmth for the trip. I’d used the coveralls before while fishing and hunting and knew that they’d keep me plenty warm.
And did they. By 7:00am each morning I was drenched in sweat after only a short hike. I had to come out of them; I was far too hot. Yet when I took them off, I froze. The rest of my clothing was wet from sweat and certainly inadequate even if dry.
I learned a tremendous lesson during that trip some 25 years ago. Don’t pack a single layer for warmth. You need flexibility. You need to have the ability to take off a layer or two to help regulate your heat.

If You Sweat, You Die

You’ll notice that all three layers deal to some extent with moisture. The wicking layer draws moisture from your skin before it has a chance to evaporate. The warmth layer must keep you warm despite getting a bit damp. And the wind layer keeps convection heat loss to a minimum.
These layers are designed to help keep you warm. But as Les Stroud regularly said during his SurvivorMan television show “In survival situations: if you sweat, you die.”
Despite having a good layering system, sweating can really compromise your attempts to stay warm. While working, make sure you remove layers as needed to help regulate your body heat. While splitting wood, remove them warmth layer and just wear the wicking and wind layers. Still sweating? Remove the wind layer as well.
The the best option is prevention when it comes to dealing with moisture in cold weather.

Related Posts

• Three Things Required For Survival In Any Situation
• Practicing Your Survival Skills
• Backpacking As A Survival Skill
• Three Essential Items For Survival