Surviving in a winter climate

[JimBob]

Can you imagine if you were stranded in the mountains where it's nothing but snow and ice and you didn't have sunglasses? I saw this in a movie where the guy basically went blind and his eyes were so black and blue. I never really thought of that aspect of being stranded in the snow with the sun glaring off the ground. I've had it happen where it does hurt and I had to use my sunglasses. That would be rough in real life to be in that situation for days.

[catspa]

In a pinch, you can make "sunglasses" out of cardboard or duct tape by cutting small slits to look through. Doesn't look too cool, but it works.

The more pressing thing is shelter against the cold. When you're all bundled up and moving around in the daytime, it ain't so bad. But at night when you stop to rest, then you get chilly.

Also, whatever you have to do to keep from falling into the river? Do it.

Parker

[dinosaur]

Actually you can poke small holes through cardboard or any other opaque substance that will cut the amount of light coming through to your eyes. The light coming through provides vision. The cloth or cardboard is so close to your eyes that it is out of focus and you can see.

[Gondor]

In case you didn't know, Mylar, out of which emergency blankets and sleeping bags are made is very good in this situation. If you bring it close to your eyes you will see that it is fairly transparent so you can use it to make sunglasses or a head wrap, thus getting protection from the sun and cold at the same time.

[Lamebeaver]

Nope, can't imagine it. I'm pretty sure I can avoid gettin myself into that type or situation, so I don't give it a second thought.

[Michael]

Originally Posted by catspa

Also, whatever you have to do to keep from falling into the river? Do it.

Hi. I'm Michael. I've fallen into a river in below freezing weather, and I approve this message.

Seriously. Don't fall into the river when it's cold. It's really awful.

[catspa]

Not only awful but can easily be fatal. I'm lucky my dad was right there and built a fire and warmed my hypothermic carcass up again. We aborted the trip and went home - I think that annoyed him, but later on it turned out useful to have me alive.

Parker

[JimBob]

I have a problem with water below 80 degrees so I can't imagine falling into freezing water. My brain would immediately go on ice. Really, I don't get how these people that jump in ice water do it.

[catspa]

When you fall in freezing water, you'll be unconscious in about 10 minutes and dead about 20 minutes after that. Wearing a Mustang or gumby suit or being in excellent physical condition helps extend that time frame, but you need to get out of the water and warmed back up pronto.

Our normal body core temp is 98.6, unconsciousness occurs at 86, death at 80, so don't waste a single degree if you don't have to.

Parker

[Michael]

[QUOTE=catspa;51641Our normal body core temp is 98.6, unconsciousness occurs at 86, death at 80, so don't waste a single degree if you don't have to.[/QUOTE]

Normal core body temperature is a range. It typically runs from roughly 98 to roughly 100 depending on the person, and it varies with the time of day. For example, your core temperature is maybe a half a degree cooler when you wake up than it is during the middle of the day.

So, while it is correct to say that 98.6 Fahrenheit degrees is A normal core body temperature, it is not accurate to say that it is THE normal core body temperature. Many people who are medically totally normal have a mean core temp higher or lower than that, some by more than a full degree.

Your general point is spot on, though: Don't muck about with hypothermia. Hypothermic people are in danger, and they can become both too uncoordinated to help themselves and can also too irrational to make good decisions to help themselves. Or both.