Survival Tips - Part 2

Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when the temperature of the body drops below 35oC (95oF). It is brought on by exposure to conditions that cause the body to loose heat faster than it can generate it. Therefore, hypothermia can be caused by falling from a boat into cold water, being outside without any head gear during the winter season, or wearing wet clothes for a prolonged period of time in windy weather.

Symptoms include:

1. Uncontrollable fits of shivering
2. Vague, slow, slurred speech
3. Memory lapses, or incoherence
4. Immobile, fumbling hands
5. Frequent stumbling
6. Drowsiness (to sleep is to die.)
7. Apparent exhaustion. Inability to get up after a rest.

Treatment:

1. Find shelter.
2. Build a fire.
3. Strip off all wet clothes.
4. Drink only small amounts of warm (not hot) fluids.
5. Get into dry clothes and a warm dry sleeping bag.

Remember prevention is the best method to fight hypothermia. Therefore, to avoid exposure to hypothermia:

1. Stay dry
2. Beware of the wind.
3. Understand the cold - hypothermia cases have occurred even in temperature ranges between 0°C and 10°C.

Emergency Shelter

A variety of shelters can be fashioned using materials found in the woods and using natural formations such as fallen trees.

To conserve energy, build your shelter near the building material (i.e. logs, rocks, etc.), close to a fuel source and nearby drinking water (i.e. creek). Avoid overhanging rocks that may spill gravel, and keep a certain distance away from lakes and rivers due to possibility of floods.

Signaling

Any item that has the ability to alert any and all potential rescuers is a good signaling item. Some of these items are fire, flashing light, mirrors and other reflectors, bright colour markers, flags and whistles. If you are using a fire, be careful that you do not ignite any surrounding area. Ground signals can be made from branches or logs, and should be about 10 metres long, and 3 metres wide. There are different types of ground signals that you should know about, as they are recognized by all search and rescue workers worldwide.

Call For Help

If you bring a two- way communication device, make sure you know how to operate it prior to departure, ensure that the batteries are charged, and make arrangements with a party to receive your distress call and act on it appropriately.

Stay where you are: Do not try to walk to safety unless you meet all of the following conditions:

1. Know where you are and where you want to go.
2. Have a compass or some other means for maintaining and setting direction.
3. Have suitable clothing that will stand up to any type of weather that you may encounter.
4. Have sufficient food, fuel, and shelter that you can carry with you.

Water

Water is more important to your survival than food. You can survive for several weeks without food, but only for a few days without water. When you are dehydrated, your susceptibility to fatigue and hypothermia increases.

Main sources of water can be found at lakes and streams. Most plants also contain drinkable water. In the winter, snow and ice can be melted for drinking water. Do not melt them in your mouth as they will lower your body temperature, which could contribute to hypothermia.

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