As the temperatures drop, it’s time to start thinking about cold weather survival and what might happen if you get caught out in the cold without adequate gear. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, cold weather causes twice as many deaths in the U.S. than hot weather. Finding yourself stranded and spending a night out in the cold can happen without warning, and even those who stick to the indoors during winter can find themselves facing a night without heat.
Staying Warm
The most important priority when facing a night out in the cold is keeping warm. One of the earliest signs that you need to warm up is shivering. Shivering is your body’s way of producing heat as it works to maintain its core temperature in order to keep vital organs from failing. Shivering is also the first sign of hypothermia.
To help yourself stay warm, cover your head. We lose about 7 to 10 of our body heat from our heads. Keep an eye on fingers, toes, ears, and noses for frost bite. When working to maintain its core temperature, the body has to work harder to keep these areas warm. Use any insulating materials on hand to cover your body with including leaves and grass.
Shelter and fire are critical elements for making it through a night of freezing temperatures. Shelters should be made out of insulating materials like pine boughs and never sleep directly on the ground. Put together a bed of leaves or grass to keep your body heat from being absorbed. Try to find a location for your shelter that is out of the wind. Don’t forget that you can make a basic snow cave in an emergency.
If you have the materials on hand, getting a fire going can not only keep you warm but also provide a psychological boost. You can use many different things as tinder, although it might be difficult fining materials that are dry. Some examples of tinder that you can find in the outdoors or have on hand include bird feathers, cotton balls, lint, dried moss, fallen leaves, and pine needles. Make sure you collect enough wood to keep your fire going through the night.
Surviving a Cold Night at Home
Those who relying on electricity for heating their homes could finding themselves facing a long, cold night as well. Power outages in the winter are especially dangerous for the elderly, the young, and the ill. Consider purchasing a gas-powered or kerosene heater for emergency situations. Use your fireplace as your main source of heat if you have one and have a supply of wood on hand. Get some extra blankets and put on layers of warm clothes including a hat and thick socks. You could even sleep in cold-weather sleeping bag or space blanket.