What it feels like to Freeze to Death

I came across this article today, and found it interesting. It sounds like a summary of a lot of interviews with people who have been caught out in the cold, rescued and brought back. I found the stages of hypothermia to be rather interesting.


http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adv...o.html?page=all

good piece. thnx for sharing.

Hahaha! I read that last winter! And the winter before...

Still, a great article and a good reminder to be safe this winter.

Very good reading and captivating. I could imagine that sort of thing happening. You think youre on top of the situation then BAM, you are in deep "snow"

One winter in NH while on active duty, I was driving to work in a blizzard. I was far from anything using the back gate to the base. I saw a snow drift that I thought I could just blast through. Unfortunately the entire road was one HUGE snow drift! I had to dig my car out with my helmet but I got out.

Now I keep an emergency pack in my car and use much better judgement concerning mother nature.

thanks for listening

I spent a year in Greenland and many years in the US snowbelt. Freezing to death has been in the front of my mind during all the winter seasons. I have had many many close calls.

Things happen so fast and the difficulties can be so extreme. Now I live in the Arizona low desert. A week ago I drove to Flagstaff, about 7000 ft. and snowing. I got "that old feeling".


It is such a deep seated fear now. No more snow for this guy.

Nomad

I have driven from Tucson/Phoenix to Flag many times. The change in conditions can be quite startling. During the time I did SAR around Tucson, we encountered more deaths from hypothermia than from hyperthermia - This was during the period from 1960-1985, before the current border conditions existed.

We just got back from my parents in WV where the snow was pretty mild for them, usually they get accumulation measured in feet not inches.
I always take our camelbaks and have large water bottles in the cooler to fill them with and each of those have our base layers kept in them as well and the wool socks and some gloves. Then all our winter coats are packed, sleds, my ALICE pack full of additional gear, fleece blankets for all, etc.
I probably carry enough weight in gear to keep me from ever sliding off the road.

It is probably worthwhile to review the care and treatment of hypothermia victims. One good source is the State of Alaska Cold Injuries Guidelines. These were developed by a panel of experts, including Prof Gorden Geisbrecht. These Guidelines are widely cited and have become the model for many organizations outside of Alaska EMS. The Guidelines cover all levels of treatment, including in hospitals. For most of us, the relevent parts are in the "General Points", "Classifications of level of hypothermia", and "First Responder/Emergency Medical Technician-I" sections.

Some general comments for field situations are if they are still shivering and talking more or less coherently, then they probably have only mild hypothermia. You can be rather agressive in rewarming these folks. Prevent further heat loss, rewarm with external heat if available, feed them high energy food, get them moving.

If they are no longer shivering and/or talking, then they have probably slipped into moderate or severe hypothermia. Handle these folks very gently. Provide insulation to prevent further heat loss, and gently transport them to a hospital. Attempting to rewarm a severe hypothermia case in the field is very risky. The good news is that if you can prevent further heat loss and handle them gently, they can survive many hours of transport to a proper clinic or hospital.

The best treatment of all, of course, is to not let things deteriorate to hypothermia in the first place!

Excellent document, thank you.

Thanks AKSAR, that is a useful document. One question -- in the Hypothermia General Points (pg 4) it states:How do you handle gently in the field when the simple act of transporting them could induce ventricular fibrillation? Just go for it and defib as required? That alone says EMT's and certain specialized equipment are required for transport -- maybe not so simple.

I will read that,thank you.I Thought I knew,obviously I have some learning to do looking at the questions

You handle as gently as possible under the circumstances. One thing to keep in mind is that when the victim is severly hypothermic, if you can insulate them (gently!) from further heat loss, they are stable for quite a long time. Rather than "go for it", it is generally better to wait for more resources so that you can move them gently. Get lots of people and whatever gear you need. Pack out a smooth trail in the snow. Get a saw and cut away vegetation in your way. Get a helicopter.

The bottom line of course is that we do the best we can with what we have. But you can afford to take some time and get help.