Staying Warm

Hypothermia is a major killer of unprepared recreationalists. The time to prevent hypothermia is during the period of exposure and gradual exhaustion.

Hypothermia is the rapid, progressive mental and physical collapse accompanying the chilling of the inner core of the human body. Each year outdoor recreationalists die from it. Most of these deaths could be prevented with the advance knowledge and appropriate action.

  • STAY DRY. STAY OUT OF THE WIND. AVOID GETTING CHILLED. PUT ON RAIN GEAR BEFORE YOU GET WET.
  • PUT WARM CLOTHES ON BEFORE YOU START SHIVERING.
  • USING A HAT AND GLOVES CONSERVES VITAL BODY HEAT.

Avoid exposure. When a person is wet, the body is cooled rapidly as the water evaporates. A breeze increases the rate of heat loss dramatically.

When clothes get wet, they lose much of their insulating value. Cotton and down lose the most, wool loses less, and synthetic piles lose the least and dry out the fastest... Most hypothermia cases develop in air temperatures between 30 and 50 degrees. 50 degree water is unbearably cold. The cold that can kill is the cold held against the body by wet clothes wicking away body heat.

WARNING SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA

  • UNCONTROLLABLE SHIVERING - IMMOBILE, FUMBLING HANDS.
  • SLOW, SLURRED SPEECH - STUMBLING, LURCHING GAIT.
  • MEMORY LAPSES, INCOHERENCE - DROWSINESS, EXHAUSTION.

Watch yourself and others for symptoms. Uncontrollable shivering is the first sign that excessive exposure is occurring and that hypothermia is impending. It is also one of the few symptoms that the victim may recognize himself or herself. Be aware of "denial syndrome" in which the victim denies any problems (I'm OK, really!).

IF YOU CANNOT STAY WARM AND DRY

  • MAKE CAMP WHILE YOU HAVE THE ENERGY.
  • NEVER IGNORE SHIVERING.

If you cannot stay warm and dry under existing weather conditions, be smart enough to assess and alter your plans. Remember that you are only as strong as the weakest person in your group. Persistent or violent shivering is clear warning that you are on the verge of hypothermia. Concentrate on finding shelter from the storm and making camp.

TREATMENT FOR HYPOTHERMIA

  • GET OUT OF WIND AND RAIN.
  • REMOVE ALL WET CLOTHING.

IF MILDLY IMPAIRED

If only mild impairment is evident, warm drinks and dry clothes (preferably wool) and a sleeping bag will probably solve the problem. Powdered jello mix or orange drink mixed with warm water makes a good high energy emergency drink. A warming fire (if it can be built quickly in existing conditions) can help speed recovery. Alcohol will cause heat to leave the body rapidly.

IF UNCONSCIOUS

When a person's core temperature becomes low enough they will lose consciousness. This should not happen if you stop the cooling using the above warming methods. You would be more likely to find an unconscious hypothermia victim near a lake shore after a boating accident. It is recommended to take off the victim's wet clothes and put him or her in a sleeping bag. It is not advisable to try to rewarm these extreme cases in the field, as rewarming may cause cardiac failure. They need to be rewarmed under medical supervision, and it may be up to you to carry them out.

This information is provided by the National Park Service Backcountry Office.
You can write or call the backcountry office at:

Backcountry Office
PO Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
Phone: 307-344-2160

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