Guide: hypothermia and frostbite

sian    General Outdoor     frostbite, hypothermia, Snow, snow in uk, web togs

Snow-covered Brecon Beacons – photo from The Telegraph.

We don’t like to be all serious here on the Tog Blog, but getting frostbitten fingers is not a fun way to spend an afternoon (as anyone who has seen Vertical Limit will know). We don’t want you dying out on the mountains, because we are nice like that, so please have a read of our handy guide to stuff that can go wrong in the snow.
Reports of more dangerously cold conditions coming across the UK in the next few days have been all over the news. Two weeks ago, ‘Alaskan’ weather in the Brecon Beacons lead to a helicopter performing what mountain rescuers called an ‘incredible bit of flying’ to reach a man stranded with hypothermia on a mountain. They also had to save a member of a mountain rescue team, sent out on foot to help the man, who was also injured. 

Now if you’re like us, then the wintery conditions will make you want to do little more than rush out, armed with crampons and an ice axe, for a trek through the snowflakes. However, even experienced walkers with shiny all-weather gear can get into difficulties in treacherous weather – hypothermia and frostbite are real risks that don’t always just affect the inexperienced.

Some of this advice may sound a little obvious, but it makes sense to know the risks and precautions you should take before you set off into a blizzard, especially in case you need to help someone less prepared than you.  

-Wear several layers of clothing, and keep dry to prevent loss of body heat – a fall into cold water is the main cause of hypothermia when outdoors. Keep moving your arms and legs to help the blood circulate. 

-Watch out for symptoms of hypothermia. These include uncontrollable shivering, slurred speech, slow breathing, a weak pulse, memory lapse, drowsiness and loss of feeling in and pale appearance of extremities.

- If you notice these symptoms, get inside as soon as possible and replace wet clothing with warm, dry garments. Hot, sweet drinks and energy bars are a good way to get heat back into the body slowly without shocking the system. In severe cases, hypothermia can lead to unconsciousness – call for medical aid.

-Never go hiking after drinking alcohol – as well as impairing your judgement, you’ll lose vital body heat a lot faster. Never ignore shivering – it’s a sign that you need to warm up fast.

-If extremities appear frostbitten (white or grey in colour, and numb), a condition which often goes hand in hand with hypothermia, get indoors fast and immerse fingers and toes in warm water. Avoid very hot water, fires or radiators as numb extremities can be burned without the patient noticing. If you’re far from home, body heat such as your armpits work well too.

The Girl Outdoors

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