10 Keys to Survival in a Winter Storm
Nature may put you through several disastrous situations, but a winter storm is among the worst. It is because even if it does not directly affect you, it can indirectly affect your lifestyle in many ways. It does not matter if you are inside your home or surviving in an outdoor situation, the survival is going to be tough.
10 Keys to Survival in a Winter Storm
Surviving against a winter storm takes technique, strategy, and above all, dedication. If you are ever hit with a winter storm, here are the 10 key survival keys you need to remember.
1. Building a shelter for survival
Say that you are stuck in an outdoor survival situation; the first thing you will need to stay safe from this winter storm is a shelter. Now you will need to use the readily available resources to make a shelter, and the best thing to use here is the snow. Here are a few types of shelter that you can make with snow:
- Snow pits
- Snow cave with roof from trees
- Tree Well shelter
The goal is to stay safe from being buried in snow and striking cold air currents. Spending the nights might be the toughest.
2. Wearing clothes after learning how the layering system works
You need to retain as much body heat as possible because continuously losing body heat may lead you to death. The best practice is to learn how the layering system works and then wear clothes accordingly.
- Base layer: It must be woolen to keep you warm while wicking the sweat away. Cotton is not a good material for this layer.
- Mid layer: Mid layer offers insulation, so it must be fluffy and loose. Using fleece jackets will be a good idea but don't go for too tight ones.
- Second Mid Layer: Depending on the cold, you may need to add a layer. Make sure to select a fluffy, thick, and woolen one. This layer can also be a vest only.
- Shell: Its job is to protect you from snow, rain, and cold air currents. It is not breathable, so you must only wear it in the coldest weather; otherwise, you may start sweating excessively.
While wearing your clothes this way, wear the gloves, hats, and shoes the same way.
3. Starting and maintaining a fire in the winter storm
Fire is a key to survival in winter storms, and it needs you to know where you will find the combustible materials and where the best place to start a fire is. In most cases, you may use the Star Fire technique, especially when you don't have enough resources.
Be careful about choosing the right platform with no snow under it, as it may put out a fire. Place some branches to create your platform for starting a fire.
4. Finding food
Finding food can be equally challenging, but sometimes it will be easier. If you are out of all your supplies, here are some quick nutritionists items you may look for:
- Animals
- Berries, fruits, and nuts
- Insects
Whenever selecting any of these, be sure to check if it is safe to eat or not.
5. Getting water for drinking
It is necessary to stay hydrated, and when there is snow, you may not find water reservoirs. The biggest mistake you must avoid is eating snow, as it may provide water but significantly drops your body temperature. The best idea is to carry snow and melt it whenever you need water. Be sure that you are carrying clean snow.
6. Knowing how to treat cold injuries
Treating injuries is a part of surviving, and a winter storm brings problems like frostbite, trench foot, and hypothermia. To treat these in time, you need to know how to detect them at the right time. Additionally, prepare with a first aid kit and knowledge of treating these. Otherwise, you may have a permanent problem because of these cold injuries.
7. Signaling for help
You cannot stay for a very long time; if you are lucky enough, there might be forces or officials sent to look for you. They may not be on the ground, so you must look for effective signaling methods. If the rescue forces are coming by air, using fire will be a great way to signal.
As the fire gets hot enough, put some green leaves in it to get a dense smoke. You can use a reflective surface to signal the rescue forces if there is sunlight. However, the best idea is to carry a few smoke flares because colored smoke will be easiest to see in harsh conditions.
8. Always being ready to deal with any situation you get
Surviving in a winter storm is a situation that you can never relax in. Nature may hit you with any unexpected thing at any time of the day. So, you need to plan for every worst case. Prepare to deal with some wild animals or move to a safer place quickly. Pack the right survival gear and polish your survival skills for a positive outcome.
9. Refrain from hard activities
A common mistake people make is that they try to work hard in this survival situation. It is the time when you need to preserve your energy as much as possible. So, refrain from shoveling or picking up logs beyond those that are essential to your survival.
10. Keep a positive attitude through entertainment.
Keeping your mind positive and motivated is going to help you a lot. Even when you are alone, you must make room for some entertainment. The great idea is to carry a pack of cards because there are so many different games you may play with one. Keeping your mind active and alert is very important in cold weather climates.
Tip:
Don't rely too much on electricity-based entertainment solutions.
Conclusion
Even when it seems extremely difficult to survive in such situations, you need to follow the right process, and you will easily deal with every situation life puts at you. With the right preparation and planning, you can easily deal with weeks-long winter storms efficiently.
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