How to Stay Warm in A Survival Situation

Published on: December 11, 2021
Written by Camila Avery / Fact-checked by David Rowan

Winter can be the most favorite season for anyone because of the variety of indoor and outdoor activities. But excessive cold presents really survival challenges. Even winter comes with new risks and challenging situations for campers and hikers.

Surviving with icy cold weather, rumble wind blowing or sudden snowfall can be scary for someone who hasn’t any idea or experience before. If you are one of them and looking for some tips for staying warm in a surviving situation, this article is for you. Here I gather some tips and make sure that these will be useful for you:

Winter Survival Tips

1. Prepare with Your Winter Survival Kit

Blankets, socks, hats, warm dresses, ice scrapers, etc. should be included in your survival kit list. make a list of what you need to survive, collect them and prepare to protect yourself from extreme cold.

2. Hold Your Body Temperature

Preserve it, think that this is the most valuable resource. Don’t let your body temperature down.

3. Dressing for Warmth

The first thing to be considered to stay warm is the layer. Trapping air between different layers can work as an insulator. Multiple layer wearing can ensure you can customize the level of insulation as you want. Layers can maintain body heat and help to avoid sweating.

Here I am talking about three main types of layers:

Base layer: 

This layer is thin and the purpose of using it is to pull moisture away from the skin. Wool is one of the best examples of the base layer. Synthetic materials also serve well as a base layer. But cotton is strictly recommended to avoid because if it gets wet somehow, it will make you colder than you imagine.

Insulating layer: 

This layer can compare with a storehouse that can store warm air and make you feel warm. It will work as a barrier toward cold.

Shell layer: 

This is the outer layer. This layer is usually quite hard and used to protect from wind, storm or snowfall. Coated nylon and some other waterproof materials are good examples of shell layers.

You have a lot of options to combine these layers and protect yourself from excessive cold. All you need to know is how to customize the layer combination according to your requirements. Keep covered your body to prevent heat loss. 

4. Avoid Sweating

Sweating can make you feel cool. There are two reasons behind it. Firstly, it makes your skin wet so that you feel cool. Secondly, while evaporating, it removes some heat from your body. So to stay warm, you must ensure to stay dry first. Wearing lightweight layers is recommended to avoid sweating. You have to rethink your diet plan. Cut those foods from the diet chart that are sweating inducing like salty food and caffeinated drinks.

5. Use Snow as A Perfect Insulator 

The most interesting fact about snow is, it acts as a neutral blanket. Maybe most of the people didn’t know about this fact previously. Snow acts as an insulator that traps heat energy and restricts cool air to get into your shelter. So, don’t forget to use it during a survival situation.

6. Do Not Eat Snow 

People think that eating now can reduce dehydration. But the actual fact is that your body needs a significant amount of energy to melt the snow you eat. So that it makes your body temperature lower than before.

7. Do Not Take Alcohol to Warm Your Body 

There is a popular myth that alcohol can make your body warm and can prevent hypothermia. But the fact is, drinking alcohol doesn’t make your body warm. Rather it lowers the core temperature of your body. So, don’t jump in this trap and avoid alcohol in a survival situation.

8. Installing Insulating Shelter 

An insulating shelter can save you from hypothermia. Do not make any shelter that is too big. As your body heat is the main source of temperature, build a shelter quite small just to fit your body. Then add insulating materials like leaves, pine needles, etc. Similar insulating materials can be added to your ground.

9. Campfire

Make a tinder bundle and gather dry leaves if possible. Ignite the tinder and make fire. This is a great way to warm up your body.

10. Having a Sufficient Amount of Magnesium 

Magnesium is an effective element that can help you to maintain your body temperature. Different kinds of nuts like almonds or peanuts are great sources of Magnesium. Wheat, soya beans, oatmeal, potatoes, brown rice etc. also contain magnesium. So, carry these items with you when you have to survive in cold weather. 

11. Keep Moving Your Body

It is a well-known matter that movement of your body can increase your body temperature. If you need to stay in an area for a long time, you can run in a cyclic path or jump to keep your body warm. You can also try some exercise that ensures the rapid movement of your body parts. So that heat reduction cannot occur from your body.

12. Don’t Take Diet Pill

Research says that diet pills can interact with the ability of your body to maintain a suitable temperature. Avoid diet pills in order to stay warm in a survival situation.

13. Stay Awake 

Your body temperature may decrease eventually when you Fall asleep. So, try to stay awake as many hours as possible.

14. Take Raw Ginger 

Chewing raw ginger can give you an instant warmer feeling. It is scientifically proven that ginger can regulate your body temperature.

Can Charging Your Smartphone While Camping Help with Survival Situations?

When camping, smartphone charging tips can be crucial for survival. Charging your smartphone while camping can help keep vital communication and GPS capabilities available in emergency situations. Ensuring your phone stays powered up with these smartphone charging tips can be a lifesaver in the wilderness. Keep this in mind when planning your next outdoor adventure.

Conclusion 

Our body has an amazing ability to regulate its temperature when everything is going properly. But it’s not well-maintained when you are in a survival situation. If you do not pay attention to such a crucial situation, your body can go distracted. In this article, I want to describe what you need to do to maintain your body temperature in a survival situation. Hopefully, it will be helpful.

Relevant Resources:

• How to Prepare for Camping in the Rain
• Is It Safe to Be in a Tent During a Thunderstorm?