Preventing Hypothermia - Part 3

Preventing Hypothermia

It is helpful to consider preventing hypothermia before it occurs. Wear layers in colder conditions, especially loose, light-weight materials. Cotton loses most of its ability to hold in body heat when it is soaked and will speed heat loss, encouraging hypothermia. The best inner layers are made of silk, wool or polypropylene because they hold in body heat more effectively. For wind protection, tight, water-repellent clothing is best as an outer layer.

If you are in the outdoors and do not have access to such materials, try stuffing your sweatshirt or jacket and pants with dry dead leaves or other debris. These can provide the dead air space needed for body heat retention. Pack in as much as you can fit until you can hardly stuff anymore in there.

Also, when using clothing in preventing hypothermia, remember to cover your head and extremities. Even if you do not wear hats or gloves very often, carry them with you during outings into the outdoors. Wool hats and wool gloves/mittens are reliably some of the warmest materials available.

When thinking about preventing and avoiding the causes of hypothermia, it is important to also remember that sweat can cause heat loss. When out in colder climates, limit or avoid activities that cause profuse sweating. If you are engaged in these activities, make sure to ventilate your clothing so that they do not become soaked in sweat.

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By Filip Tkaczyk