It is important that we enter the wilderness area with a solid
foundation of camping skills. First Aid, Fire building,
Orienteering and most important Common sense. As we entering the
winter months it is always worth revisiting common first aid
issues. So this weeks Backpack tip is about Common signs of Cold
weather injuries. Common cold weather injuries when backpacking
are Hypothermia, Frost Bite, and Frost Nip. Signs and symptoms
include: Shivering, Slurred speech, Abnormally slow breathing,
Cold, pale skin, Loss of coordination, Fatigue, lethargy or
apathy, Confusion or memory loss. Remove wet clothing. Replace
wet things with a warm, dry covering. Don’t apply direct heat.
Don’t use hot water, a heating pad or a heating lamp to warm the
victim. Instead, apply warm compresses to the neck, chest wall
and groin. Don’t attempt to warm the arms and legs. Heat applied
to the arms and legs forces cold blood back toward the heart,
lungs and brain, causing the core body temperature to drop. This
can be fatal. Offe