One of the most delightful things about winter is standing outdoors enjoying the beauty of a snowfall. Gently falling snow often seems delicate and lovely. However, if someone is trapped outdoors during a snowstorm, that beauty can quickly turn into something dangerous. In order to enjoy the winter, it is best to understand winter safety, and to know what to do if trapped outside during a storm. Here are a few tips on staying safe when caught outdoors in a snow storm.
When trapped outside in a vehicle, it is important to never leave the vehicle. It may seem that walking towards shelter is the best idea, but a lone person is much harder to spot than a vehicle. In addition, a vehicle offers shelter from chilling winds and snow. Even a few minutes without shelter can lead to hypothermia. Run the engine of the vehicle for a few minutes every hour in order to get heat. Crack the windows to release carbon monoxide.
If you are trapped outdoors in a snowstorm without a vehicle, the most crucial thing to do is to find some sort of shelter. Getting out of the wind can mean the difference between life and death. A stand of pine trees or an overhanging rock can make an acceptable shelter. Building a shelter right in the snow is a surprisingly effective shelter. Snow will actually trap heat, making a snow burrow one of the best places to sit through a snowstorm. If possible, making a small fire can also help mitigate the circumstances.
Whether you are trapped in a vehicle or sheltering completely outdoors, it is important to remain relatively mobile in order to encourage blood flow, which creates heat, but not to exert too much energy, as that can quickly diminish heat conservation. Once an hour, it is a good idea to move around as much as possible without leaving the shelter. A person can simply swing their arms or stomp their feet to keep warmth moving through the limbs.
Thirst is one of the greatest dangers to those trapped in a storm. People often eat snow to quench thirst, but you run the risk of lowering your core temperature, which can lead to hypothermia. If at all possible, melt the snow first by either holding it in a container near a fire or by holding it near the body. Even if the only container you have on you is a plastic bag, the little amount that melts will help stave off dehydration in a survival situation.
If you have anything that would make a suitable marker, you can increase your chances of being noticed, whether you’re sheltering in a vehicle or in the outdoors. A bright ribbon or scrap of clothing can be hung from the vehicle or a nearby tree limb to alert any rescuers of your presence.
Closing out our article on what to do when caught outdoors in a snow storm, we thought you might also be interested in: How to Survive a Snowstorm in the Outdoors, How to Build a Survival Snow Shelter.
Featured Image from themoiz94/Unsplash
