Everyone Should Have These Key Winter Survival Skills
- Build or Find a Shelter
- Make a Fire
- Provide First Aid
- Melt Snow or Ice
- Get Found By Others
In many parts of the United States, winter weather can be brutal, necessitating knowledge of these five essential winter survival skills. While not all of these skills will be needed in every situation, they could come in handy. Winter weather can strike unexpectedly and get worse quickly, so now is the time to start honing these five winter survival skills.
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1. Build or Find a Shelter
A car could function as a shelter for a stranded driver, but a person out skiing, hiking or hunting may be left with little protection. If possible, get below the tree line if hiking in an elevated area. Use trees, grass, moss, sticks, and rocks to form a shelter. Digging a snow cave is another option for emergencies.
2. Make a Fire
Making a fire while camping in nice weather is one thing. Making one in the middle of a blinding snowstorm is another. The dead wood is wet from the snow, and the ground is also cold and wet. It only takes a small fire to avoid hypothermia. Dig out a pile of snow, and make a bed of logs. Tree bark and fire starters such as cotton dipped in petroleum jelly help ignite the logs. Add dry tinder from cut tree branches on the top of the log bed.
3. Provide First Aid
In extreme winter weather, injuries and shock can combine with hypothermia and result in a life-or-death situation. Knowing how to identify cold-weather health problems such as frostbite is critical. A person should also be familiar with general first aid. For example, a person walking for firewood could slip and fall on ice. A cut that is deep would require compression. Always stock a first aid kit when traveling during the wintertime. Pack it inside of the vehicle. Stay current on CPR and general first aid training.
4. Melt Snow or Ice
According to Eagle Creek, another essential winter survival skill to have is the ability to melt snow or ice. Even when it is sub-freezing, the body needs water. Dehydration causes a more rapid hypothermia response. Once a fire is going, it can be used to melt water or ice to drink. In the absence of a fire, a water bottle could be filled with snow and placed into an insulated area above freezing, such as inside of a coat. A person sheltering in a car could do this for water.
5. Get Found By Others
Winter weather emergencies could happen anywhere. A person who is driving on a desolate road and has a car problem may not need a fire, but they would need to be found by emergency responders. If there aren’t any cell towers nearby, a personal beacon could help. A ham radio may also be useful. Before traveling during the wintertime, it is also a good idea to leave an itinerary with a family member or trusted friend. Individuals should check-in at predetermined times. A lack of an expected check-in between two locations could narrow the search area.
Each of these winter survival skills can be practiced now while the weather is good. When a mild winter storm hits, it could be wise to practice these skills outdoors, too. Becoming familiar and adept at each of these five winter survival skills could make a difference in survival.