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-Reader Submitted Article
Dressed for Survival
One of the problems faced in a survival situation is exposure.
Hot or Cold or somewhere in between. Shelter is commonly used to
fight this, but before you step out the door into the wild you should
be able to dress the part. Know where you are, where you will be,
and weather patterns and situations for that region are key factors
in your choice of clothing.
Let's start with cold weather. Sub zero temps and snow aren't the
only times you can suffer hypothermia. Even in the high 40s I have
heard of hunters getting lost and suffering from it. Not to mention
the addition of wind and rain. This is where layering comes in to
play. Modern materials have come a long way to help the good fight
against the cold. Top off a good layer of clothing with a good waterproof
shell and you're in business my friend. As you work when you feel
the first signs of sweat just unzip clothing, or remove clothing
to keep a constant comfort level and lessen the danger of losing
more body heat from heavy sweat. Then when you start to feel cold
just add layers again. Seems easy, but many just keep sweating and
refreeze. While we are at it don't forget those feet. Keep them
warm, but dry and problems should be low. Plenty of toe room helps
fight cold. On the other end of the body we all know a good hat
and/or face mask can be a life saver.
On the opposite is warm to hot weather exposure. This is where most
get it way wrong. Look at any summer vacation spot and you find
small amounts of clothing with high amounts of sunburn and fatigue.
Even in hot weather it's important to cover the body. Not only from
the sun, but I have found that water loss from uncovered sweaty
limbs make you even hotter. Light colored long sleeves and pants
of breathable material will work wonders on warm to hot days. You
will also be glad you have them when the sun goes down and things
start to cool off. Keep a hat on to shade the eyes and neck, and
a pair of sun glasses and some light comfortable shoes (not sandals,
they can cause burned feet) and you are on your way. I even carry
a light rain jacket around my waist just in case.
Experiment when you go out day to day with different cloths, materials,
and accessories. Pants and shirts with many pockets help distribute
the weight of gear. Why do you think the military does this? (SMART
AINT THEY?) Dress for survival before you go out, but always seek
shelter.
-Jimmie Foster
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