An necessary a part of manhood has at all times been about having the competence to be efficient on this planet — having the breadth of expertise, the savoir-faire, to deal with any scenario you end up in. With that in thoughts, every Sunday we’ll be republishing one of many illustrated guides from our archives, so you’ll be able to hone your manly know-how week by week.
It’s simple to think about hypothermia as the kind of illness that may solely have an effect on individuals who get trapped in disastrous circumstances, like being misplaced in a frozen Alaskan wilderness or falling into an icy river. However it’s one thing that may occur to you even underneath far much less excessive circumstances.
Think about a easy day hike, beginning at low elevation in sunny climate. As you ascend the mountain, you’re employed up a superb sweat in your cotton t-shirt and don’t take breaks to hydrate or eat. On the prime, the climate turns, rain or wind settles in, and also you twist your ankle. Your cotton shirt is now appearing like a fridge, and the wind solely serves to tug your physique temperature down faster. At first, signs are seemingly minor. Shivering and an absence of coordination set in, however with time and extra publicity, the signs change. Extreme confusion, a shocking lack of shivering, and inexplicable emotions of being too heat start to take over. It’s possible you’ll even take garments off since you really feel too sizzling, which solely quickens the method. A day hike has rapidly become a really harmful state of affairs.
Whereas the danger of creating hypothermia will increase considerably because the temperature drops beneath 32°F, you don’t must be in freezing temps to get it; hypothermia can set in at any temperature beneath 50°F in case you are uncovered to chilly circumstances for an prolonged interval, particularly in case you are moist, improperly dressed, or unable to maneuver to generate warmth.
You may forestall hypothermia by carrying artificial or wool garments, checking the climate forecast, maintaining dry, and staying nourished and hydrated. But when you end up on the brink, figuring out what to do at that second might imply the distinction between life and demise.
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