Winter Camping ( chapter 1)

Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when the body's core temperature falls below 95.0°F, which is essential for regular metabolism and bodily activities. Biologic homeostasis or thermoregulation keeps the body temperature between 98–100°F. If

· When exposed to cold and the body's heat loss mechanisms fail, a

· The core temperature drops. Symptoms appear as body temperature drops.

· Adult hypothermia symptoms include:

· This may stop as hypothermia continues (shivering is a positive indication).

· their heat regulation mechanisms are still working).

· Breathing shallowly.

· Agony and memory loss

· drowsiness or fatigue

· slurred or mumbled

· No coordination, clumsy hands and steps.

· a weak, sluggish pulse

· Severe hypothermia may cause unconsciousness without breathing or a pulse.

Thermoregulation Factors

· Air temperature - chilly, but not below freezing

· Hot air, especially with humidity

· Wind, especially if the victim is wet.

· Inadequate clothing

· Activity level - tiredness

· Adaptability of the body - fitness level

· Due of alcohol's vasodilation effect on cutaneous blood vessels,

· The hypothermic person's skin layer gets colder.

· Under-eating

· Lack of water promotes dehydration (10% dehydration causes 30-40% drop in

· thermistor)

· mild hypothermia

· This is the most prevalent form of hypothermia that we have all experienced.

· another. It is the easiest to cure and prevent.

· Get warm and dry to treat mild hypothermia. Wet and windy

· Clothes rob the body of heat. Wind and weather protection

· Insulate from the ground – pine branches, leaves, moss, etc. work.

· Put on windproof, waterproof gear.

· Start a fire if safe.

· Get into a pre-warmed sleeping bag or blankets

· Hot liquids, then sweets or other sugary meals

· Heat neck, armpits, and groin.

Remember that hypothermia victims may have poor judgment and may not make sensible decisions. They may be more prone to mishap. Be particularly cautious if you have mild to moderate hypothermia! Don't worsen a poor situation!

Moderate hypothermia

A person with moderate hypothermia should be bundled up and out of the cold, with the neck and head covered to prevent heat loss through the head.

Avoid sudden movements and physical exercise. Hard treatment may trigger fatal cardiac arrhythmias.

Apply warm water bottles or warm rocks to the armpits and groin (comfortably warm when touched by a hand flat on the stone and held in place).

Victims can drink lukewarm sweetened non-alcoholic fluids. If they appear to be improving, give them more drinks and warmth.

Even if fully recovered, medical attention should be sought.

Hypothermia treatment

This is a medical emergency and a rescue team should be dispatched promptly to bring the person to a hospital.

Maintain severe hypothermia victims' body temperatures. Improper warming can produce metabolic acidosis, which can lead to shock and heart failure. In some states, only a medical institution should warm.

When someone has severe hypothermia, they need to be treated gently. Forced movement or walking can draw very cold blood from the extremities into the warmer core, causing shock. Be nice and supportive. Avoid rubbing the skin or manipulating the joints. This is counterproductive.

The best hypothermia treatment is for three persons to get under a blanket pile or in a sleeping bag. A person on each side of the victim works best for skin to skin contact. Ignore their requests for privacy or to be left alone, but be gentle with them.

You should not give fluids or try to raise the body temperature.

The most important thing is to keep warm and avoid further loss.

Monitoring respiration and pulse if hypothermia knocks someone out.

Call an EMT.

If you find a feeble pulse, do not perform CPR. Start rescue breathing, chest compressions, or full CPR only if you can't find a pulse or breathing. Check for a pulse and shallow breathing often.

Giving CPR to someone with a weak pulse can cause their heart to cease.

Remember, keep them warm until aid arrives, then pronounce them dead. People have recovered from hypothermia and low body temperatures in morgues.

Never give up on a hypothermia patient who has no other serious medical issues (like severe injuries from a fall or extreme altitude sickness).

Frostbite is a medical ailment induced by intense cold causing localized skin and tissue damage. Frostbite occurs most frequently in places furthest from the heart and with big exposed areas.

At or below 32°F, blood arteries close to the skin contract, and glomus bodies move blood away from the extremities. High winds might cause the same reaction. This restriction keeps the body warm. Extreme cold or prolonged exposure to cold can cause dangerously low blood flow in various parts of the body. The absence of circulation causes the afflicted skin tissue to freeze and die. Frostbite has four degrees. The degree of pain varies.

1st grad

This is termed frostnip and only affects the frozen surface skin. Itching and pain are the first symptoms, followed by white, red, and yellow patches and numbness. Frostnip normally only affects the top layers of skin, causing temporary injury. Frostnip can cause long-term heat and cold sensitivity.

2nd degree

The skin may freeze and solidify, but the deep tissues remain supple and normal. Usually blisters 1–2 days after being frozen. Blisters can grow hard and blackened, but they usually appear worse. However, the area may become permanently intolerant to both heat and cold.

Third and Fourth degrees

Further freezing causes deep frostbite. Acute thawing of muscles and tendons. The skin becomes stiff and waxy, and the area becomes inaccessible, sometimes permanently. Deep frostbite causes purplish blisters that turn black and are typically bloody. Damaged nerves in the area might cause numbness. Extreme frostbite may need amputation of fingers and toes if gangrene develops.

Untreated frostbite may cause them to fall off. It can take months to assess the degree of the frostbite's damage, which delays surgery to remove the dead tissue.

Causes

Preoccupation with having fun obscures extremely chilly toes turning into numb toes that won't wriggle.

Very cold with wind chill

Wetness (replace wet clothing or cover and insulate wet clothing)

Wrong garments (cotton kills! / no cotton in your socks or long underwear)

Lack of warm clothes

Poor rain gear

Supercooled metal or fuel contact

Disturbing factors such as a confined space, tight clothing (including wristwatches), or local pressure (tightly laced boots)

Diarrhea (10 percent dehydration causes 30-40 percent decrease in thermal control)

Treatment

To treat superficial frostbite, cup your hands and blow on the damaged area, warm from another warm hand, or place your fingers in your armpits. Severe cases require medical attention.

To be continued ………………

Best Clothes For Winter Back Packing