Make safe drinking water. KATADYN MICROFILTER PRICES INCLUDE FREE SHIPPING.
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Seasonal Reminder: Dress for the weather, not the car.
Winter camping. Just because
the calendar says winter, the thermometer says cold, and the landscape looks
white is no reason to stay out of the wildlands. For more info…Click here
Be Safe Out There. Driving to the trailhead, hiking along the trail or bushwhacking and camping in the backcountry need some special techniques and good equipment. Keep your tent, sleeping bag, backpack and other gear in tip top condition.
Wildlife needs your respect, especially if you are part of their food chain. Learn to incorporate preventative techniques in your normal routine and you’ll not need to be apprehensive while in bear orcougar country.
Safe drinking wateris one of your main concerns. Water filters and water purifiers provide safe and convenient water wherever you are.
To fully enjoy the great outdoors you must feel safe and secure. Whether you're new to the wildlands or have spent several years trammeling about, learning or reviewing safety tips is always beneficial.
Be aware of hypothermia whenever in cool, moist windy situations.
So pack up your tent, sleeping bag, and camping gear on your pack frame and get out there.
NOTE: Please click on bolded words for additional safety information< ><-->
THE
WINTER DANGER OF
HYPOTHERMIA
By:
Ned Vasquez, MD
Winter
is close at hand and many of us will be venturing outside to enjoy Montana as
we ski, snowshoe, sled, skate, hunt, and snowmobile. Awareness of the signs and
symptoms of hypothermia and how to deal with this potentially deadly condition
is an important tool to utilize to bring us back safely from our winter
adventures.
Our bodies' temperatures are normally
regulated within a very narrow range, between 97.2 and 99.5 degrees. When our
temperature drops below this level, we are at risk of organ damage and even
death.
Hypothermia is most likely to occur when
we are exposed to cold environments for long periods of time without adequate
protection. Becoming wet from rain, snow, or even sweat greatly increases the
risk, as does exposure to windy conditions. If a person is injured and unable
to move, their risk of hypothermia also greatly increases.
Symptoms of hypothermia usually begin
gradually; recognizing them early and intervening before they become severe can
be life-saving. The first symptom is simply feeling cold, followed by shivering
as the affected person's body attempts to generate increased heat.
If measures are not taken at this point
to warm the individual, more severe symptoms can develop, including fatigue,
drowsiness, and confusion. The hypothermic person becomes incapable of making
rational decisions to correct the situation and is at high risk of dying.
Further symptom progression will include loss of coordination, muscle
stiffness, and slowed breathing and heart rate followed by coma and death.
The best approach to hypothermia is to
prevent it.
Measures
to do so include:
• Dress appropriately for your winter activity and have extra
clothing available. These should include adequate insulating layers, protection
from moisture, and warm head, hand, and foot protection.
• Consider carrying space blankets or even a sleeping bag on longer
day trips.
• Carry matches and fire starters with you and know how to use them
to build a fire in winter conditions.
• Stay hydrated with non-alcoholic fluids.
• Avoid overextending yourself or others in your party.
• Pay attention to your companions, watching for early signs of
hypothermia and deal with them early and aggressively.
If hypothermia does occur, treatment
should include the following:
• Remove cold, wet clothing and replace with warm, dry garments.
• If the situation allows it, build a fire to provide a heat source.
• Wrap the person in blankets or place in a sleeping bag to retain
heat. Insulate them from the ground and protect from wind. Ifpossible,
another
individual may share the sleeping bag.
• Provide warm liquids if the individual is alert and capable of
drinking. Alcohol should be avoided!
• Place heat sources such as warm water bottles or heat packs around
the victim to provide warmth. These will especially help if placed in the arm
pits and groin areas, close to major arteries.
• Move to a warm place as quickly as possible but do not delay
initiating treatment in the field as soon as symptoms appear.
• Call 911 if the victim's symptoms are progressive and emergency
care is available. Severe hypothermia requires specialized care in a hospital
to prevent complications and death.
We
are fortunate to live in a place with an abundance of exciting winter
activities. Knowledge regarding hypothermia and its prevention and treatment
will help to keep you safe this winter.
