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Extreme Cold Survival Guide
If you fall into cold water, get out as soon as you can – your body rapidly loses heat in cold water.
If you can't get out don't try swimming unless you are very close to a way out. Swimming can increase heat loss by up to 50%. Instead, reduce heat loss by drawing your arms, legs and body together. This position protects major blood vessels near the body's surface, where a lack of insulating fat makes them vulnerable to the cold.
Breathe through your nose. This also reduces heat loss, providing you keep your mouth closed or covered.
Staying hydrated helps to fight off frostbite and hypothermia because it enables the body to generate heat more efficiently. Drink at least three litres a day, or as much as you can.
Additional clothing won't help hyperthermia. You must seek shelter from the chilling winds and nighttime frosts by making yourself a snow shelter. If someone is with you, keep warm by cuddling up together.
Don't massage frostbite and try not to thaw it out unless you can be sure you can keep it thawed. Refreezing damaged tissue can be extremely dangerous and cause even more damage.
If feet are frostbitten don't try walking on them, this can extenuate the damage to the frostbitten tissue. Instead, send out for help if possible.
Check out these real-life survival stories
The most daring helicopter rescue in history and the tragic story of a party of five who lost their lives at the top of the world. The man who had to abandon his son to the icy elements and the two guys that were hurtled down a mountain on the back of an avalanche.
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