How Can You Survive -50c Cold Temperature and how long you got before its too late. The cold weather is probably one of the hardest things about being outside. This is true no matter how long you are there. When you are camping for a short time or trying to live out there for months at a time, extreme cold weather is usually the only thing that keeps you from being able to do everything you need to do. This is true no matter how long you are there.
The cold weather is more of a problem than just an annoyance. You need to get ready and learn everything you can about how to stay alive in freezing weather. I hope reading this post will teach you something valuable and save your life.
What’s The Coldest Temperature Ever Recorded on Earth?
While -50°c seems cold, that’s not the coldest temperature ever recorded. Scientists recorded a -144° Fahrenheit in Antarctica. That’s about -97.78°c! Imagine living in that condition. During the long, dark polar winter, scientists observed this severe temperature on the ice sheet deep in the heart of Antarctica. According to the team’s paper in Geophysical Research Letters, this is nearly as cold as it can potentially get in our solar system.
The temperature breaks the previous record for the coldest known air temperature in the natural world, which was set in 1983 at -128.6°F or -89.22°c at the Russian Vostok Station near the South Pole. When Russian scientists went outside to check on the weather station, they wore masks that warmed the air before inhaling it. Humans can’t inhale that cold air for more than a few breaths since it would cause our lungs to bleed.
If inhaling cold air is very harmful, how can we survive cold air, -50°c and below? Here’s a quick survival tip you can use if you experience this extreme cold.
How Should You Prepare for Extreme Cold?
- Keep an eye on the local weather reports. Know when a storm, snowstorm, or cold front is approaching.
- Make sure that everyone in your group or household is prepared. This is especially true for the elderly, children, pets, and those who are already ill.
- Stay inside if extreme cold weather is in your area.
- Prepare your home by insulating and caulking it to keep the cold out. Check the pipes; if they are frozen, they may burst. All carbon monoxide and smoke detector batteries should be tested.
- There’s a risk you’ll be stuck in your house for days. Get supplies for the latter two, such as food, water, prescriptions, pet food, a radio, flashlights, and batteries.
- If possible, avoid driving. Don’t drive on the road. If you are stranded in your automobile, stay inside and phone for rescue.
How to Stay Warm in Cold Weather?
Keeping your core temperature warm is essential for cold weather survival. Shorter days (less sunlight), wind chill, colder temperatures, ice and snow will conspire to take your body heat and energy. To keep you warm, your body will have to work more and consume more calories. To stay warm, use the following cold weather survival tips:
Use a Lot of Cloth Layers
This is the most effective strategy to keep your body temperature stable while surviving in the cold. Because they trap air between them, many layers are preferable to a single thick one. Your body subsequently warms this air, acting as insulation against the cold. Begin with a light-wicking layer to keep sweat away from your skin and work your way up. Most individuals benefit from three to five layers. The outer layer should always be wind and waterproof to reduce heat exchange and keep water out. Layers are also great for temperature regulation because you can add or remove them depending on whether you’re cold or hot. If you’re travelling with children, a decent rule of thumb is to clothe them in one more layer than you are.
Continue to be Active
Maintaining an active lifestyle will keep your heart rate elevated and a steady flow of warm blood to your extremities. However, it is critical not to overexert yourself. Maintain your body temperature by eliminating layers of clothing to stay warm but not hot. Sweat will draw heat away from you if you become drenched in it. Maintain a steady pace throughout your efforts, whether trekking or building a shelter. To avoid exhaustion, slow down or rest at regular intervals.
Consume More Calories
Because you will use a lot of energy staying active and maintaining your body temperature, you will need to ingest more calories and drink more liquids to keep your body going. Extra high calorie/low weight food should be packed in your bug-out bag. Nuts, granola bars, energy gels, and PowerBar-type foods are examples of this. Pack Gatorade powder, which may be blended with water or melting snow, to stay hydrated. This will keep you significantly more hydrated than water alone.
Keep Your Head Covered
If you do not keep your head covered, you will lose up to 90% of your body heat. Wearing a hood or hat will keep the heat and your head dry while working in the snow. Also, this is the easiest layer to remove if you are growing hot. Cover your head to keep that precious heat in!
Tips for Cold Weather Survival
Surviving in cold weather necessitates the same fundamental survival abilities as staying in any other situation. However, you will need to expand your skill set as some jobs become more difficult under cold weather survival conditions.
Construction of a Cold Weather Shelter
During cold weather survival, building a survival shelter should be a primary priority. A decent shelter will keep the wind and damp out while supporting the heat. Cold winter survival adds new problems and benefits to survival shelter construction.
Snow is a wonderful insulator and makes an excellent outer layer for a shelter. Using branches and piling snow on top, a simple A-frame or Lean-to shelter works well. If you have an emergency blanket, poncho, or tarp in your bug-out bag supplies, any of these items can be utilized to form the roof of your shelter if set upon the frame of branches. Using one of the items as a ground cover will also help to insulate a refuge from cold and dampness. When constructing a cold weather survival shelter, keep in mind that if you intend to build a fire, ensure it is ventilated via a chimney to avoid asphyxia.
Fire.
For two reasons, fire is vital in a cold weather survival scenario:
- Staying Warm. This is self-evident, yet its significance cannot be emphasized. Having a fire will boost your morale and keep the threat of freezing-related medical concerns at bay.
- Melting Snow. Boil the water from melted snow to destroy any microorganisms. This will provide you with an almost infinite water supply while allowing you to survive.
When gathering wood in a winter survival situation, it is preferable to gather branches that are not laying in the snow since the moisture from snowbound wood makes it difficult to burn. Look for dead branches near the base of trees in the area.
Health Problems in Cold Weather
Exposure to too much cold can result in many health problems and injuries that can lead to death. Here are some of the most common health problems you can get when exposed to extreme cold.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia happens when a person is exposed to excessively cold temperatures. It can happen to anyone who falls into freezing water, is buried by an avalanche, or is exposed to extremely low temperatures. A dangerously low core body temperature – less than 35°C / 95°F – is the initial indication of hypothermia. Hypothermia victims may experience fast heartbeats, general stiffness, nausea, disorientation, and acute shaking. As hypothermia worsens, they will struggle to think appropriately, speak correctly, or move precisely. Unfortunately, if a person falls asleep while suffering from hypothermia, he or she will die. What follows is a great need to sleep.
To maximize the person’s chances of survival, hypothermia must be treated immediately. The person suffering from hypothermia should be removed from the chilly environment as soon as possible. They must be rewarmed to survive. Remove wet or chilly garments from their bodies and wrap them in blankets. Ensure they do not come into contact with the chilly ground or the floor underneath them. Put warm compresses on them and force them to drink warm (not hot) liquids. Contact your local hospital or emergency services.
Trench Foot
Make sure your feet are dry and warm to avoid trench foot. Trench foot is a cold injury caused by allowing your feet to become damp and chilly. This does not include frostbite. As a result, the feet begin to itch, spasm and feel either painfully or incredibly numb. If the feet remain damp and cold for an extended amount of time, they may develop gangrene or need to be amputated. To prevent this condition, always wear boots designed for extreme cold weather and replace your socks as soon as they become wet.
Frostbite
Frostbite is a cold injury in which the tissue of the affected individual freezes. Frostbite is classified into two levels.
- Superficial frostbite. The skin seems pale, with a smooth texture. There is usually no discomfort. The treatment is to thaw the affected area, which may be covered with blisters.
- Deep frostbite. It occurs when the frost penetrates the interior tendons and muscles. Even after thawing, the affected areas will feel stiff. A doctor’s quick medical attention is necessary to avert irreversible injury.
Remember that offering first aid is one of the most important aspects of surviving cold weather.
Chilblain
Chilblain is a cold injury brought on by moist and chilly air. The skin does not freeze but becomes covered in red blotches or patches. The damage may develop into blisters and expand, lingering on the skin for several days.
Exercise that improves blood flow can help alleviate chilblains. It is critical to avoid scratching the affected area. Additionally, apply calamine lotion to the skin and keep it heated for a lengthy period of time.
Frostnip
Frostnip is a mild cold injury comparable to frostbite but does not entail tissue damage. The nose and fingertips are frequently impacted. Frostnip is treated by warming the fingertips and nose, which restores blood flow to the nipped areas.
Conclusion
Trying to stay alive in such harsh conditions is no simple task. However, with some planning and the inclusion of properly selected cold weather survival gear, your chances of success can be significantly boosted. Knowledge and competence, on the other hand, cannot be replaced. If you live in a cold climate, practice making a shelter and a fire using only the items in your bug-out bag and cold weather survival gear. This will put your abilities to the test and identify any areas for improvement, as well as the viability of your equipment (particularly your cold weather apparel). Remember that good fortune favors the prepared.
