COLD WEATHER TIPS-III

ODDS AND ENDS

If at night you get cold, let the adult leadership know so action can be taken before injury from cold weather health problems occur. In other words it's better to be kidded about forgetting your sleeping bag than risking hypothermia.
Organization and proper preparation is very important in cold weather camping. Good meals, proper shelter and comfortable sleeping arrangements make for an enjoyable outing.
Drink 2 quarts of fluids per day besides what you drink at meals.
Learn to recognize and treat cold weather health problems. These include frostbite, hypothermia, dehydration, chilblains, trench foot, snow blindness and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Use the buddy system to check each other for cold weather health problems. Notify the adult leadership if symptoms do occur.
If you feel cold gather some wood or do some other type of work. Working will help warm you.

To be contd......
Eating ice or snow can reduce your body temperature and it is not pure. Don't eat it.
Snow and ice can be used for drinking water but only after boiling.
No open flames (candles, matches, etc.) inside the tents. Wiggling your toes inside your boots will help keep feet warm. If your feet get cold put on a stocking cap.
Take and wear dark sunglasses if snow is in the forecast. The glare of the sun off the snow could lead to snow blindness. The sunglasses will reduce the glare.
Use the solid fuel hand warmers. They are cheaper and you can light them yourself. Adult leaders must handle all liquid fuel.
The solid fuel hand warmers tend to have a flair up of heat after burning for a while and then they start to cool down. Placing them in an old sock will help to protect you from this "hot spot".
Keep off ice on streams, lakes and ponds.
It takes longer to cook food in cold weather, so plan accordingly. Before going to bed pour enough water for breakfast into a pot. It is easier to heat the pot than a plastic water can.
Keep your matches in a metal match safe as plastic can freeze and break if dropped.
Gather twice as much fuel as you think you'll need for fires.
Carry tinder from home. It may be hard to find in snow or wet conditions.
Gather your wood and tinder for the morning fire in the evening so that you will be able to start the fire quickly in the morning.
Space blankets make good wind shields only. The metallic properties take over the insulation properties in cold weather and become cold conductors.
Carry extra plastic bags in cold weather. They can be used as personal wind shields and ponchos by slitting a hole in the top for your head to go through.
Carry extra matches because the more you need a fire to warm up the less likely you will be able to start one easily.
Flashlight batteries are effected by cold. You can revive a dead battery by warming it up near the fire.
You may want to take a bottle of propane into your tent with you at night. This will keep it warmer and make it easier to light your stove for breakfast.
Heaters inside your tent can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

LAYERED CLOTHING SYSTEM

Select the proper type and amount of clothing. Regulate your clothing according to your activity rate. This is the most effective way to ensure comfort. Pay attention to your bodies' signals. Don't wait until you are cold to put on more clothing. Act when you first begin to feel cooler.

Clothing layers

Long, thermal underwear. polypropylene
Shirt or inner layer
Sweater, light jacket
Wind or rain gear
Long, thermal underwear. polypropylene
Inner pants wool, wool blend
Wind or rain pants
Wicking inner socks polypropylene
Insulating socks wool or wool blend
Boot liners insulated insoles
Footwear, boots waterproof, loose-fitting, mukluks or snow boots
Head coverings
Gloves and mittens
TYPES OF COLD

Wet cold: 50º F to 14º F The most dangerous. Wide temperature variations from melting during the day to freezing at night makes proper dressing difficult, and important. Damp conditions from melting snow or rain makes keeping dry difficult.
Dry cold: 14º F to -20º F Ground is frozen and snow is dry and crystallized. Strong winds cause the most concern with keeping warm. Extra clothing layers and wind-proof outer garments should be added.
Arctic cold: below -20º F Requires the most insulation and wind-proofing. Many materials change physical properties, becoming brittle. Only for the most experienced campers