Backpacking

Front Cover
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 1979 - Backpacking - 52 pages
 

Contents

I
4
II
5
III
7
IV
32
V
45
VI
51

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Page 38 - If your party is exposed to wind, cold, and wet, think hypothermia. Watch yourself and others for these symptoms...
Page 37 - You exercise to stay warm and your body makes involuntary adjustments to preserve normal temperature in the vital organs. Both responses drain your energy reserves. The only way to stop the drain is to reduce the degree of exposure. The second step is hypothermia. If exposure continues until your energy reserves are exhausted, cold reaches the brain, depriving you of judgment and reasoning power. You will not be aware that this is happening. You will lose control of your hands. This is hypothermia....
Page 36 - The first step is exposure and exhaustion. The moment you begin to lose heat faster than your body produces it, you are undergoing exposure. Two things happen: you voluntarily exercise to stay warm, and your body makes involuntary adjustments to preserve normal temperature in the vital organs. Both responses drain your energy reserves. The only way to stop the drain is to reduce the degree of exposure.
Page 36 - Be aware of the danger of hypothermia — a condition in which the body's internal temperature drops below normal. It can lead to mental and physical collapse and death. Hypothermia is caused by exposure to cold and is aggravated by wetness, wind, and exhaustion. The moment you begin to lose heat faster than your body produces it, you're suffering from exposure. Your body starts involuntary exercise, such as shivering, to stay warm and makes involuntary adjustments to preserve normal temperature...
Page 36 - don't drink" when hiking saying is nonsense. An excellent way to determine if you are becoming dehydrated is to check your urine, dark yellow urine may indicate you are not drinking enough water. Hypothermia Be aware of the danger of hypothermia subnormal temperature of the body. Lowering of internal temperature may lead to mental and physical collapse. Hypothermia is caused by exposure to cold, and it is aggravated by wetness, wind and exhaustion. It is the number one killer of outdoor recreationists....
Page 37 - To defend against hypothermia, stay dry. When clothes get wet, they lose about 90 percent of their insulating value. Wool loses relatively less heat; cotton, down, and some synthetics lose more.
Page 38 - ... uncontrollable fits of shivering; vague, slow, slurred speech; memory lapses; incoherence; immobile, fumbling hands; frequent stumbling or a lurching gait; drowsiness (to sleep is to die); apparent exhaustion; and inability to get up after a rest.
Page 38 - When a member of your party has hypothermia, he or she may deny any problem. Believe the symptoms, not the victim. Even mild symptoms demand treatment, as follows: • Get the victim out of the wind and rain.
Page 45 - Many experienced hikers wear bells, dangle a can of rattling pebbles, whistle, talk loudly, or sing, although noise is not a foolproof way to deter bears. A surprise encounter, particularly with a female bear and cubs, is dangerous. A normally placid mother may be quickly provoked if her cubs are disturbed, or if you come between the cubs and her. If you see a bear, give it plenty of room. Do not make abrupt moves or noises that would startle the bear.
Page 41 - If you are in a treeless area (as above timberline), you should sit on a small rock with insulating material (poncho or foam pad) under you, with only your buttocks and feet touching the rock — clasp your hands around your knees. If you are struck, the bolt of lightning may not pass through your heart because of the insulation.

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