10 Helpful Cold Weather Survival Tips

Did you read about that family in Nevada that survived for 2 days out in the cold after a car accident?  They wouldn’t have made it if they had not had used ingenious survival techniques.  Their story is a really good reminder that you just never know what life is going to deliver and a little preparation  goes a long way.

Here’s 10 quick tips to keep in mind, should you ever need to survive in the cold unexpectedly:

1. The easiest way to remember the basics is to remember C.O.L.D.  First, the C:  Clothing clean.  Keep you clothes clean.  Clothes caked in dirt or grease lost their insulation value.  Plus, if you are going to be out there any length of time, dirty clothes will become a sanitation issue.
2. O:  Overheating.  Avoid overheating.  When you get too hot, you start to sweat.  Your clothes will become damp and you will lose valuable water.  Try to dress in lots of layers during the winter.  This will allow you to shed and add clothing as needed.
3. L:  Loose and layers.  I know it already mentioned it, but loose layers of clothing allow you to regulate temperature as well as potentially share layers with others.
4. D:  Dry.  Keep dry.  Getting wet is a gateway to trouble.  Find a place to stay dry, whether it is in a car, or under a makeshift shelter.
5. Put a basic survival kit in your car.  Put everything into a metal coffee can {that way, you will have a dry place to build a fire, if you need to}.  Include matches, paper, a small first aid kit, knife {or multi-tool}, snacks, and bottled water.  I always keep a blanket in the back of my car {mostly to cover up with at kids sporting events, but it could really come in handy as a layer of insulation, in an emergency situation.
6. Keep top and bottom warm.  Wear a hat, or create a head covering and make sure your feet stay warm.
7. ALWAYS tell someone where you are going.  If you are headed out for a hike or driving to Aunt Margie’s house, make sure to let someone know.  It’s pretty hard to rescue you if you don’t know where to look.
8. Follow the rule of 3.  In any extreme environment, you have 3 hours to find shelter, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food.
9. Keep snow boots in the car at all times during the winter. Even if you have something as silly as a flat tire, you will want to slip them on.
10. Never, never, never leave the house without a coat at least in hand.  Get in the habit of bringing it, even if you are just running down to the corner store.

Have you ever needed to use any of these tips?  What other tips do you have for surviving the cold weather, if  you suddenly needed to?

~Mavis