Surviving The Cold

Extreme cold weather and snow can cause a major threat to us all if we are not properly prepared. To prevent succumbing to the cold you must take the correct equipment with you on your excursions.

Remember to take lots of warm clothing and dress in layers. This helps to keep you insulated and protect against the cold finding its way in. I would recommend wearing a vest, t-shirt, pullover and a good waterproof, well insulated coat from a good outdoor gear store at a minimum in very cold conditions.

Also consider the advantages of wool, this material will keep you warm even when it is wet. Layering helps to keep the warmth your body generates from leaking out into the outside air and also has the advantage of letting you regulate your temperature by peeling off layers if you start to overheat.

Also remember that nearly half of your body heat is lost through your head and so the importance of a good hat cannot be underestimated. Even though our heads usually feel warm when our extremities are cold this can be because of the vast amount of heat radiated through this area due to the body rightfully seeing it as the number 1 priority.

So just by keeping your head properly insulated you have already made major progress in the battle to keep warm . Again, a woollen hat is always a good option. Other points on your body such as the neck and the wrists are places where a lot of heat can be lost if not properly covered.

This is due to the large amount of blood which is circulated through these points. So be sure to have a good pair of waterproof, breathable and well insulated gloves ‘at hand’, and a  scarf with a well zipped up coat to protect your neck from leaking heat.

Make sure that your coat has fasteners on the sleeves , preferably Velcro as this will help seal in even more heat and cover your wrists. The same goes for the neck of your coat, the tighter the seal the better, just don’t choke yourself!