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AE-1237, November 2002

When You Become Stuck and Stranded

The first rule of survival when you become stuck and stranded in your car is to STAY WITH THE CAR! The only time you should dare to venture away from the vehicle is after the storm has gone down and you can easily see an occupied house. Your sense of direction is almost immediately lost when you attempt to walk in a blowing snow, white-out situation. When people are disoriented in a white-out situation, they tend to walk in a circle. The snow will have already filled in their tracks when they circle around to where they have already walked, so they don't know where they have been or where they are going.

Soft snow is one of the most difficult materials to walk in. A snow depth of more than 4 inches will cause a person to walk in an unnatural, bent-over position. This position, along with the effort of lifting the feet much more than usual to clear the snow, will fatigue a person very quickly. The cold and wind also accelerate the loss of energy. Very quickly, the body cannot expend enough energy to maintain strength and internal body heat. Hypothermia develops quickly. The distance you can cover on a good day is impossible while attempting to walk in a storm.

It is always better to stay in the vehicle where you are protected from the wind and cold. It requires much less energy consumption to stay with the car and minimize activity. Many more storm survivors are found alive and well in their car than are found walking around in the snow, wind and cold. Those who leave their vehicle are usually found frozen in a snowbank or draped over a fence, dead. Stay in the car and survive!

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is the number one killer of many outdoor sports enthusiasts. It has often been called `The Killer of The Unprepared.'

Symptoms

Hypothermia is a condition where the body temperature, or core temperature, is lowered too much. The blood has cooled down, and the oxygen carried to the brain has been reduced, dulling the senses. The victim is fatigued, delirious, and loses the dexterity of the arms and legs. When the body's core temperature continues to drop and nears 85 degrees F, the victim will slip into unconsciousness. Treatment must be started immediately to prevent failure of the heart and lungs, and possibly death.

Symptoms of hypothermia are fairly easy to identify and treatment is effective if done promptly. Don't wait!

• Uncontrollable shivering is one of the most obvious, early signs of hypothermia.
• As the situation continues to worsen, the victim becomes clumsy, loses dexterity of the limbs, loses reasoning and memory, goes into muscular rigidity and death follows very soon.
• The symptoms are very difficult or impossible to diagnose on yourself because of delirium and loss of the ability to think clearly or at all.
• The loss of body heat must be reversed.

Treatment of Hypothermia

• Prevent further heat loss. Get the victim out of wet or cold clothes; they will significantly slow the warming process. Put the unclothed victim in a sleeping bag with one or two other unclothed persons. Their body heat will transfer quickly to the victim, raising the body temperature.
• You must add heat to the body in most cases of hypothermia. If the victim is conscious and able, feed warm drinks. But no alcoholic beverages! Place a scarf over the victims mouth to warm the inhaled air. The victim cannot produce enough heat to return to normal body temperature, so heat must be added.
• Treat the victim very gently! Do not massage or rub down the victim, it may cause tissue damage. Jostling the victim can cause heart stoppage in severe cases.
• Minimize any movement of the victim. The energy reserves of the victim have nearly been used up and must be conserved for body heat. The victim will be nearly in shock and further activity can bring on shock. Activity could bring on cardiac arrest due to the colder blood cooling the heart.

Prevention of Hypothermia

The best way to prevent hypothermia is to stay warm and dry with the proper combination of preparation, clothing, food, and exercise to maintain good circulation.

Persons trapped in a blizzard should sleep with caution. You have a lower metabolic rate when you sleep so you produce less body heat. Some sleep is necessary, but do not remain idle and sleeping for long periods of time. Stretch and exercise periodically to maintain circulation.

Eating before sleeping will help to maintain body heat. Avoid medications that may induce sleep.

If you are not alone, take turns sleeping for short spells of time. There must always be someone awake in the car to watch the storm conditions, listen for weather forecasts, maintain emergency heating efforts, and respond to rescuers.

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Clothing and Bedding

Warm clothing and bedding reduces body heat loss, making it easier to maintain a safe, comfortable body temperature. There are several ways to reduce heat loss.

• Stay in the vehicle. This eliminates the wind chill factor; there is no wind in the car to blow away body heat. The chance of hypothermia is greatly reduced also.

• Wear clothing in layers. One heavy coat is not as effective at maintaining body heat as is a number of layers of clothing. It is also easier to keep from overheating since clothing can be taken off a layer at a time. There must be an air space between the layers; the clothing must be loose. Stuffing your foot with several socks on into a tight fitting boot will not be as effective as fewer socks or a larger boot. Mittens are always warmer than gloves since all the fingers share the heat.

• Keep dry! Moisture is very effective at carrying away body heat when it evaporates. Replace damp socks with dry ones to keep your feet warm and dry. Avoid exercise that brings on a sweat, however slight it may be. A chill or shiver results in a loss of body heat that is difficult to regain. It is essential to keep dry, even more difficult in a storm with wet snow.

• Take advantage of whatever insulation you might have. Sitting on layers of newspaper can help. Insulate between yourself and the car door with layers of newspaper. However, take extreme care if you must smoke! Foam pads, wooly sheepskin (real or fake), blankets, even a reflective space blanket will help to keep you warm. If you have it use it!

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What To Wear -- The Layer System

The layer system described here is what you should use when you are stranded in a vehicle with little or no additional heat for warmth. These materials should be kept available in the vehicle throughout the winter months as survival gear. Residents and visitors of the Upper Midwest states should take this seriously; it can mean life or death!

LAYER ONE -- Long underwear; choose cotton-lined wools or blends, or mesh. All cotton underwear is less warm. Wear one pair of cotton socks under two pair of wool socks.

LAYER TWO -- Long-sleeved turtle neck sweater or wool shirt and a coat or V-neck sweater and wool pants.

LAYER THREE -- A jacket or parka with a wind proof, water resistant (it must breathe) outer layer. The insulating material can be fiberfill, downfill, or other insulating material. The liner or inner layer should be comfortable. Alternating quilt stitching should be used to prevent cold seams and spots. The jacket or parka should have a hood (snorkel type preferred). Insulated pants of the same construction should be worn also. A long coat is warmer than a car coat. A two-piece snowmobile suit with bib-type pants is warmer than an all-in-one. Long sleeves can cover your mittened or gloved hands for another layer. High necks should be selected as well as raglan sleeves, storm flaps over buttons, zippers, pockets, and belts.

LAYER FOUR -- Sleeping bags designed for winter use. Summer weight sleeping bags do not have the insulating capacity but will be better than none at all. Several blankets, including a reflective space blanket, are another option.

It is essential to wear a cap or hat since most of your body heat lost is lost through your head. Wearing a hat will keep your hands and feet warmer since that heat will not be lost through the head. The choice of hat is yours, but it should be insulated and fully cover the head and preferably the ears. A balaclava is an excellent choice since it can be worn rolled up like a conventional stocking cap or rolled down for full-face protection. A warm, knit scarf is good for the neck and can be worn across the face for good protection. Wool is warmer than synthetic, but if it isn't comfortable, it won't be worn; wear what is comfortable to you.

Sunglasses are not just for the summer. Sunlight reflected from the snow can be blinding. Sunglasses will reduce the glare and protect against snow-blindness. Select gray or green lenses. Orange and yellow lenses may increase the strain on your eyes, use with caution.

Use lip balm, hand lotion, or frost-protective cream to prevent chapped skin and lips.

Other individual needs must be met also. For families, don't forget such things as diapers and other sanitary needs. An infant with soiled diapers and no replacements available can be big trouble in no time.

Clothing To Bring Along - Winter coats or parkas, balaclava, insulated gloves, stocking cap, insulated footwear, heavy socks, sleeping bag or quilts.

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Water and Food Supplies

If you don't take anything else along, carry a gallon of clean water. A lack of water can cause dehydration, a dangerous state. The body's most important need is clean, drinkable water.

You'll need to drink one to two quarts of water per day. This can include other liquids such as soft drinks, fruit juice, liquids from canned goods, coffee, tea, cocoa, or bouillon, but not alcoholic beverages. Melted snow should be used only if necessary and then it must be warm. Cold drinks will use up precious body heat; don't drink them. One gallon of fresh water should be available for each person traveling.

Some emergency food should be taken along even though a healthy person can go without food for up to 30 days. Most storms will last only two to three days, so vast stores of food are not really necessary. Food is a great morale builder.

For three days for each person you should carry along:

• One gallon of clean water
• Six cups of gorp (2 cups raisins, 2 cups peanuts, 2 cups chocolate chips or M&Ms)
• 18 pieces of fresh fruit. Choose from bananas, apples, oranges, pears, etc.
• Canned goods may be brought along with the can opener!
• 18 bread items such as cupcakes, sweet rolls, or doughnuts.

Each day, eat up to two cups of gorp, six pieces of fruit, and six bread items (not all in one serving). This food intake will provide approximately 2,700 calories per day.

Food and water should be kept inside the car to prevent freezing. Select foods to match the tastes and diets of the people traveling. Alcoholic beverages should be avoided but tobacco products should be provided for those who really need them. Survival during a storm is not the time to quit smoking, cold turkey! Alcoholic beverages dull the senses, impair judgment and affect the activity of the consumer — none of which is needed in a survival situation. A sober person is warmer, too.

Emergency Food Supplies - High energy breads or pastry, drinking or distilled water, breakfast bars, nuts, fruit, high energy candy bars.  Keep these items warm, not frozen.  

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For more information on this and other topics, see: www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu

AE-1237, November 2002