Survival in winter conditions depends critically on conserving body heat. Muscular effort increases the output of heat from the body, but there comes a time when when muscular effort must be severely curtailed. This may occur because of darkness, fatigue, lack of food or injury. When you are forced to stop working, you start to get cold and must try to conserve the small amount of heat produced by the body.

There are two main methods by which we lose heat in the outdoors - conduction such as in windy conditions “Wind Chill” and evaporative cooling. such as when our clothes are wet. Our enemies are cold, water and wind.

Three areas of the body lose heat faster than others due to high blood flow and little natural insulation. These are

• The head.
• An area on either side of the chest outside the pectoral muscles.
• The groin in the region of the femoral arteries.

These areas require more insulation in cold windy conditions so as to keep heat loss to a minimum.

Choose clothing that is warm and windproof and can be layered. Carry at least a plastic bivvy bag and some form of insulating mat to keep you off the cold ground or snow in an emergency. In case of emergency, shelter from the wind, snow or rain on the lee side of a hill amongst trees if possible, improvise a shelter from whatever materials are available, if in snow dig a trench or a snow cave. Huddle together to conserve heat. Adopt a sort of seated foetal position with the knees drawn up, the shoulders hunched and the arms across the chest. This protects two of the high heat loss areas mentioned above. Wear a hat or balaclava and try to keep a positive attitude. Never give up!

Adapted from FVWC S&R info sheet