On hypothermia (Patreon)

Let's talk about hypothermia, what it is, what it feels like, and what I do to avoid it. 

You all already know that I'm tempting hypothermia frequently when I go out. With highs in the low 50's on my warmest hikes this time of year, along with my insatiable appetite for dunking myself in every waterfall I see, I'm basically constantly shivering. 

So first: What is hypothermia? 

Hypothermia is a serious medical condition when your body can't produce as much heat as it loses, causing a dangerously low body temperature- 95F or lower. 

The first symptoms I notice are uncontrollable shivering, clumsiness, and shaky or slurring speech. According to the Mayo Clinic, other symptoms may include drowsiness, weak pulse, shallow breathing, confusion, and loss of consciousness. 

Hypothermia can be caused by wearing inadequate clothing (or none at all) in cold weather, falling in cold water, getting cold in wet clothing, or being very tired and cold. 

While a little low level hypothermia is dangerous but solvable, serious hypothermia should be treated immediately, and if possible, you should call 911. 

So what do I do to avoid hypothermia? 

Avoid sweating or getting my clothing wet

Wear shoes in photos where my feet don't show

Carry hand warmers in my pack at all times (and yes, sometimes I have one hidden in my hand in photos- you'll never guess which photos)

Keep spare, cozy clothing in the car, and lightweight layers in my pack

Bring a warm drink in an insulated water bottle

When I'm naked, my clothing is always nearby, in a dry (or as dry as possible) place

Be realistic with what photos I can take- yes a picture submerged in that pond would be beautiful, but is it worth the risk?

Constantly check in with myself. If I'm uncontrollably shivering, not only will the photos not be crisp, but I'm risking my own health. 

Keep an eye on the color of my fingernails, feet, and lips- I'm watching for paleness, obvious signs of poor circulation

Listen to my speech- if my words are starting to slur or get shaky, it's time to get dressed and start warming up. 

Limit my alcohol consumption if I brought beer- alcohol consumption actually causes your core body temperature to drop. 

If I do start to feel the first symptoms of hypothermia set in, these are my strategies for warming back up and staying safe: 

Get dressed (pretty obvious)

Eat a sugary snack, and drink something warm

Start making my way back to trailhead, walking carefully and being attentive to how I place my feet- that increased clumsiness is real and I don't want to compound on my hypothermia with a sprained ankle

Turn the heat on when I get to the car immediately, and change into the afore-mentioned cozy clothing

This is a really good guide for what to do in instances of serious hypothermia, which I (luckily) haven't encountered yet. 

Stay safe and warm out there!