FROSTBITE & HYPOTHERMIA: How to avoid them and what to do when you feel cold
So what happens when you don’t have the proper gear?
Basically, you get too cold.
Next, your body will focus all its energy on keeping your core warm, leaving your extremities vulnerable to frostbite. Tissue might freeze because blood is shunted away from the cold areas of the body. Fingers, toes, and noses are usually in danger. When your fingers and toes go from cold to numb, address it immediately.
You can learn more about staying safe while hiking in the snow in our risk assessment and decision making and the section on Traveling in the Cold as well as skills to learn.
What To Do When You Feel Cold When Hiking
Here are tips that work for us:
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Add on layers.
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Make sure your hiking clothing, winter boots, and crampons aren’t too tight. You want to be able to wiggle your toes for good circulation.
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If you have wet layers, change them out for dry ones.
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It gets tricky if movement doesn’t warm you up and the extra layers don’t help. A movement like hiking, jumping jacks, rubbing your hands together, or wiggling your toes can all help.
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If you have overnight gear, set up camp, and get in a sleeping bag.
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Have someone help warm you up. Skin-to-skin works best. I’ve put my cold hands on someone’s warm belly, and while it’s not pleasant for the other person, it definitely worked.
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Remember that food is fuel for your body to stay warm and energized. Pack foods that are easy to eat in cold temperatures, such as soft cheeses, meats, M&M’s, etc. (not Snickers, they freeze). I like to pack an insulated bottle with a hot drink; cocoa, chai tea, or hot water with a NUUN tablet. Drinking cold, half-frozen water is fun in the heat of summer, but it’s the last thing I want to drink when trying to maintain my body heat. I prefer a Hydro Flask bottle with a flat lid for keeping things really hot.
What to Know About Frostbite
Severe frostbite consists of numb, cold, white, rock-hard skin with big blisters (blebs). It shouldn’t be field rewarmed since the area will be useless and very painful; evacuation is the only option. Know the signs and read up on what to do before you go.
Dangers of Hypothermia
A danger from cooling off too much is hypothermia. What happens is that your body’s core gets so cold that your normal brain and muscle function are impaired. While the symptoms may be evident to others, it’s hard to notice this happening in yourself. You may start mumbling and stumbling; your brain isn’t all there. You might leave food, water, and shelter behind. Your decision-making capabilities are impaired. Eventually, you start shivering uncontrollably and are unable to walk. The lower your body temperature, the less you can function. When your body temperature reaches around 86F, you lose consciousness, your skin is ashen grey, and you may appear pulseless and breathless.
Know the signs and read up on what to do to prevent hypothermia before you go.
Prevention and treatment for hypothermia are basically the same as for frostbite. Keep warm! Use dry, warm layers. Stay hydrated and fueled. Powdered JELL-O dissolved in warm water is often recommended since it is easy for people to ingest. If someone is experiencing these symptoms, get them out of the elements, stop the heat loss, and keep them fueled. Consider calling for evacuation.
Real Life Example
I have had numb toes from too-small boots and had to stop hiking; I couldn’t put extra socks or toe warmers on because I didn’t have any more room in my shoes. I actually put toe warmers in my shoes and it didn’t help at all since I had less room to wiggle my toes. My boots were freezing up from dropping temperatures after a thaw. We stopped and set up camp, my feet warmed up in my sleeping bag, and I was fine after that.
While fingers and toes are relatively easy to keep in check, the nose is slightly less obvious. I’ve had the early stages of frostbite (frostnip) happening to my nose but I never felt it go cold or numb. My partner spotted it looking waxy, and I quickly warmed it up. I warmed it up by pinching it, blowing my breath towards it while covering it with my hands and then protecting it with a Buff. Awareness of potential cold temperature-related dangers is one of the many reasons I prefer hiking with a partner in winter, especially above treeline.
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