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-Reader Submitted Article
Staying Warm
A huge storm moves into your area and suddenly you find yourself
without electricity and heat! What do you do? You're not prepared
for an emergency situation. You have some water and cans of food
but the temperature is rapidly dropping. You could start a fire
in the fireplace, but you don't have a fireplace. Now what?
Each year nearly 700 people in the United States die of hypothermia.
Prolonged exposure to cold air or cold water temperatures are common
causes. Hypothermia occurs when more heat escapes from your body
than your body can produce. Severe hypothermia can lead to death.
Some early symptoms include: Shivering, poor judgment, mild unsteadiness
in balance or walking, slurred speech and difficulty performing
tasks. Some late symptoms include: Muscles become stiff, slow pulse,
breathing that is shallow and slower, weakness or sleepiness, and
confusion.
Be sure to wear thin layers of clothes rather than one thick layer.
The best types of clothes are made with wool, cotton, or fleecy
synthetic materials. One's body heat can be lost through the head.
Though it is important to prevent general heat loss, the most important
reason to keep a hat on (and your body temperature up) is that the
brain requires the most blood, and needs that blood to be the right
temperature. Your brain controls everything else in your
body (your ability to think and act, as well as the ability for
your body to maintain a particular temperature). So it is imperative
to wear a hat! If you also have a scarf you can tie it over your
head covering your ears then put the hat on. That way you protect
your ears as well as having an extra layer on your head. Gloves
and thermal socks are equally important. If you do not have the
thermal type socks just double up with regular socks.
Stay indoors to avoid rain and wind. If you do go out and get your
clothes wet remove them immediately and put dry clothes on. Stay
active to keep blood flowing to all your muscles, however, don't
over overexert yourself. Drink liquids such as warm broth or juices.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Alcohol may make your body feel warm
inside, but it lowers your body's ability to retain heat. Alcohol
slows circulation and can make you less aware of the effects of
cold. Caffeine, a stimulant, accelerates the symptoms of hypothermia.
Both caffeine and alcohol can cause dehydration.
Warming packets are a wonderful product to keep in your house and
car. They are quite popular with truckers and skiers. They come
in many sizes and can be put inside your shoes and gloves. They
stay heated anywhere from 2 to about 20 hours depending on the brand
and size. They are relatively inexpensive and can be found in most
sporting goods stores and online. These are great to have for both
survival needs as well as outdoor activities!
-Joanna Perry
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