Numerous news outlets carried the tragic Attaway family news. A former Air Force member and his two young sons walked off on what seemed to be a leisurely hike, but they never came back. Stories like this one happen far too frequently. The weather was just reaching the 60s as they started their hike, but soon the clouds darkened and the temperature dropped into the 40s. Both rain and wind were present. The conditions were ideal for a senseless tragedy: disoriented and dressed for the heat. Only their Labrador retriever in yellow was present when they died. They leave behind a wife, three further children, and one deceased child.

The beginning of this story is severe, but this is typical of how these sagas progress. The fact that the weather is frequently not that extreme may be part of the reason why hypothermia is such a killer that claims far too many lives. Outdoorsmen typically head out when the temperature dips into the single digits equipped for the weather. The news is flooded with warnings about high heat conditions. Anywhere in the lower 48 states between October and April can simply be thought of as having a regular day when it is rainy, windy, and 40 degrees outside.

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An individual who has hypothermia is said to have a body temperature below 95 degrees. Hypothermia, however, happens gradually. If you can identify the signs, it might well save your life or the life of a friend or family member.

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The first decline in body temperature leads to the development of Stage One Hypothermia. The body temperature is essentially unimportant in the field. What matters are the symptoms. Shivering, which can range from mild to severe, is usually the most common symptom. In fact, shivering is almost always a warning sign of hypothermia. Be serious about it! The process of diverting blood flow to vital internal organs also starts in the body. Fine motor skills start to decline as a result. Touching the thumb to the little finger is one typical test for Stage One Hypothermia. Even though it’s not a foolproof test, the inability to pass it is a warning sign that someone is approaching Stage Two Hypothermia, which is a very serious condition.

In the shift from Stage One to Stage Two Hypothermia, sufferers frequently experience nausea, extreme exhaustion, and a warming sense that they are recovering. The body’s capacity to deceive itself is one of hypothermia’s most perilous characteristics, and this phenomena illustrates it. Shivering intensifies as Stage Two Hypothermia advances. Additionally, in a last-ditch effort to maintain its most crucial processes, the body directs an increasing amount of blood flow to keep vital organs warm and operating. In this stage, victims become disoriented, have severely impaired fine and gross motor skills, and frequently start to make decisions that have lethal repercussions.

The father in the opening passage of this piece was once near a road and ran into a passing driver. A trip back to the lodge where his wife and three other children were staying was provided to him and his two sons. He said no. Even though I lack concrete proof, it would be entirely reasonable to assume that he was in Stage 2 hypothermia at this point in the story. Victims frequently say that they are doing well at this point. They lack the mental capacity to understand the opposite. This underlines how crucial it is to monitor your partners in potentially hypothermic situations.

At roughly 90 degrees body temperature, stage three hypothermia begins to develop. This is the point where shivering usually stops. The body is in the process of shutting down completely. There is frequently amnesia, poor self-control, and blue and swollen lips and skin. If a quick intervention is not made, death is imminent. A person in Stage Three Hypothermia is unlikely to be able to save themselves.

How was it possible to avoid this in the first place?

The good news is that hypothermia can be completely avoided by taking a few basic safety precautions. Preparation is the key to everything.

Always go into the outdoors equipped with appropriate clothing and emergency supplies during seasons where hypothermia is even a possibility. I’ll concentrate on the clothing issue because the vast majority of deadly hypothermia cases may be avoided with just clothing.

Carry a day bag filled with your essentials in case the weather does turn bad, even on warm days when bad weather is not predicted. The best way to handle changing weather is to wear layers of clothing. Cotton clothes should not be worn either due to its terrible insulating properties. Cotton loses its effectiveness as a cold-weather insulation as soon as it gets wet. It may become wet as a result of sweating or precipitation. Although there are several excellent man-made textiles, wool has long been the gold standard for keeping warm in damp to rainy situations. Layers should be worn on top of polypropylene underwear as a foundation layer. Additionally, always have a rain poncho or parka for when it actually starts to rain. Wind is one of the primary causes of hypothermia. You can use the rain gear you have with you as a windbreak. Finally, make sure you have a wool cap with you. When the head is exposed, a significant amount of body heat escapes via it.

I will offer basic guidelines for treating hypothermia in the coming days, along with suggestions on what to include in a survival pack.

Paul Marsh is a co-author of a website that places a focus on passing down knowledge about outdoor activities including camping, fishing, and hunting, with a special emphasis on helping families and others who are new to these pursuits. Information on camping, hunting, and fishing from various angles may be found on his website Family-Outdoors.

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