FDF Winter Survival

[NCO]

Inspired by the other Winter survival threads around I decided to make this little list/guide about important things to remember when going out in wintertime. I'm using Finnish Defense Forces' Soldier's Handbook as reference in addition to my own experience.

Some basics of human functioning capabilities:

Before your ability to function starts to degrease:

few hours without water.
a day without food.
70 hours without sleep.
for 9 days with 3-5 hour sleep per day.
At least goes with Finnish conscripts, they have tested.

1. Proper clothing.
- Use suitable clothing for the situation. Layered clothing is the key. Touching your skin something that will pass sweat forward to the next layer, which should be wool, as it is light and keeps you warm even if wet. Then a windbreaker layer. When you are moving, you can well remove the wool layer, to reduce sweating and heat. After sweating, and when you stop, change the layer on your skin to a dry one. Have a proper hat as almost 30% of body heat escapes from your head. Remember, your limbs are the parts that'll freeze first.
- Feet. You need them, don't you. So, in order to keep 'em functioning properly, use good socks and shoes. I personally favor rubber boots with removable felt lining. You need to have big enough shoes to fit proper undersocks, woolen socks and the felt lining. Remember that your feet also swell a bit when you walk. Important is, that the shoes are NOT tight. Air is what insulates, not fabric. Do not use dirty or wet socks, you'll just end up having a frostbite. Always dry your socks and other clothing when possible. Also make sure your shoes are dry. Good way is to put the close(not too close) to fire/stove and put a piece of wood under the heel, so that the evaporated water can get out from the whole shoe.

2. Water.
- It might surprise some of you, but cold is just as bad as heat when it comes to water. You'll need to drink a lot. If in hard physical strain, about 1 liters per hour. How to carry this whit you and keep it from freezing is another matter.
- Drink about 2dl in every 20 minutes or a mouthful every 10-15 minutes.
- Keep your primary water bottle under your clothes, so that your body will keep it warm.
- Carry your other bottles upside down as they'll start freezing from the top. this gives you a little more tome to drink them before they freeze shut.
- Always fill your bottles with hot water. This'll keep them from freezing for a longer time. There is little use to drink water that is cold. Your body has to use a lot of energy to warm it enough for the body to use it.
- DO NOT eat snow or ice. BOIL it to water and then drink the water.

3. Food.
- Proper, extra high energy diet is extremely important for keeping you functioning in cold weather. So no died foods, real mans food!
- Eat in small patches, around 4-6 times per day. Avoid sugar! Carbohydrates is what'll keep you going. Rye crackers are a good snack. Put some jerky on it. Active moving in extreme cold can duple your energy usage. So, you use around 2000 kcal for breathing and other basic functions. 3000 - 3500 kcal in regular active life, so in extreme cold, working hard, you'll have to take up to 7000 kcal per day! (if you get fat, move more...)
-Eat warm food at least two times a day.

4. Preventing frost bites.
- Proper clothing.
- Large enough shoes.
- Clean socks, don't use nylon!
- Keep your feet clean, but not with soap or anything that washes off the natural oils of the skin.
- Avoid sweating, but keep moving.
- Change on dry clothes when ever possible.
- Move your facial muscles to keep blood circulation working in your face too.
- Avoid soap washes, deodorants and face lotions that have water in them.
- Have a partner. Check each others faces for frostbites.
- Eat and drink warm food and water. Store both near your body to keep 'em warm.
- Don't smoke. It affects your blood circulation and increases significantly the change of getting a frost bite.
- Don't touch metal with bare hands. If you have no option, dry the metal and your hands before touching it.
- Numbness is a signal of a circulation problem. Do push-ups and other exercises to keep you warm.
- White area on your skin is a frost bite. Warm it with your bare hand, DO NOT RUB! NEVER RUB WITH SNOW! You'll just get an infection.

One more time:

Pay special attention to your feet.
- Keep 'em dry.
- Try to change your socks daily.
- Take your shoes off during rest and dry your socks.
- Wear warm clothes, as warm general clothing also helps to prevent your limbs from freezing.

There is typos, I know. Feel free to point 'em out so they can be fixed. I didn't write about shelters because it is now 1:13am. Maybe later.

Hope this proves useful. Feedback is always apreciated. (as long as it's good... )

[crashdive123]

Not sure where you got the "you can function somewhat properly" info from, but in my opinion it is incorrect. I haven't looked at the rest that closely yet, but I will.

[Rick]

I understand what you are trying to say in that section (I think). Your point is you need a lot of food (calories) in winter and since you need a high calorie diet you also need a lot of water (the more food you take in the more water you need). Is that right? Most folks are going to relate that to the rule of threes:

3 hours with shelter
3 days without water
3 weeks without food

and it will seem a bit confusing because of it. But if we remember that the more food you eat the more water you must also consume. Couple that with the fact you need more calories in winter to help ward off the cold, then it starts to make sense.

The rest is pretty good stuff. Personally, I would NOT go with cotton socks because the wick away your body heat but they sure are comfy. I'll stick with my Smart Wool socks but that's my personal choice.

Good post!!

[lucznik]

Mostly good info. I agree with Crash and Rick that the timelines for needing food/water are not correct and also that I don't usually like to wear cotton against the skin in cold weather.

I also have never heard of not using soap for washing one's feet (or other body parts for that matter.) I'm pretty sure there is no fat on the outside of my feet that could be washed away. Are you sure this isn't a part of the military manual slipped in to convince uneducated young soldiers that it's OK to stink a bit?

[Rick]

Oh, I forgot. About the washing bit. Don't substitute an alcohol based hand cleaner for soap and water either. Remember that alcohol evaporates and evaporation = cooling.

[NCO]

I'm using Finnish Defense Forces' Soldier's Handbook as reference.

There is where those stats are from.

Now, I knew someone is going to ask about the "you can function somewhat properly" part.

They mean that before you'll start to see significant drop in your focusing, thinking and working abilities. So yes, you'll stay alive much after crossing those limits, but your ability to function will significantly degrease. Quote: "Even 2-3% dehydration will significantly degrease human preformance ability."

Please remember that my reference is originally for combat soldiers. They need to be able to function properly to fill their duties. I think that this guide is good for example for a hiking/skiing trip or if you are bugging out. You want to be able to cope with hard physical strain.

[NCO]

I also have never heard of not using soap for washing one's feet (or other body parts for that matter.) I'm pretty sure there is no fat on the outside of my feet that could be washed away. Are you sure this isn't a part of the military manual slipped in to convince uneducated young soldiers that it's OK to stink a bit?

Yup, I'm sure. During one combat exercise I had made the mistake of washing my feet and face with water and soap. Ended up having frostbites on both areas. On your skin there is a thin layer of fat. It protects you from cold. Don't take it away.

[crashdive123]

NCO - no disrespect intended here, but I did spend over 20 years in the military. I understand where you are coming from, and I understand with physical exertion in cold climates additional caloric and fluid intake is required, I just don't agree - for example - that after a few hours without water your performance would be diminished significantly. Maybe I'm hung up on the "function somewhat properly" wording. No worries. Good post.

[NCO]

No worries, as I stated earlier, feedback is appreciated. I'll probably make the wording there more accurate.. Anyway, that is what FDF studies and generations of experience of cold climate military actions say. Also that is my personal experience of nearly 22 years in a country with cold winters.

[Rick]

I like your signature line. Survival is about surviving WITH nature. Good observation!!

[NCO]

Well, thats at least how I see it. Nature is, it doesn't take anything from you or work against you. Also it will not adapt to your needs. You have to know what you can use to your advantage that is in the nature. So, use it, don't fight against it.
Thats my philosophy about nature.

[crashdive123]

...and a mighty fine philosophy to have.

[NCO]

C'mon guys, enough with that... I'm blushing soon. It's just common sense! (which I generally lack....)

[NightShade]

I like your quote too!.. Its always how I looked at it too... I think that half the reason I hate Man vs Wild and Bear Grylls annoys me.. Just the whole adversarial role he ascribes to nature..

Anyways... Good post

Another point ypu may wanna make that lot people don't realize is the effect getting wet in coldcondtion can have.. You would last longer naked than u would in wet clothes at a temp below freezing... So if u go thru the ice and crawl out.. Its naked time.. Lol.. All jokin aside that is tru

[NCO]

Another point ypu may wanna make that lot people don't realize is the effect getting wet in coldcondtion can have.. You would last longer naked than u would in wet clothes at a temp below freezing... So if u go thru the ice and crawl out.. Its naked time.. Lol.. All jokin aside that is tru

Very much true. The same thing goes with sweating. It's just the source of the moisture that varies. In cold weather, wet is bad. A good tip to keep at least some of your extra clothes dry is to pack them in a plastic trash bag. Then stuff the bag into your backpack. Works really well with rain, and to some extend with a quick dip an a lake/river/sea.

[NightShade]

The trash bag is not bad idea!... Another thing you can do,which I do... Buy "dry bags"... I do a lot of kayaking and canoeing so I already have a bunch.. More $ than a trash bag obviously but IMO not a bad investment.. When I'm out in the winter ill take a smaller one and throw a under armor set along with a pair of sweatpants , a sweatshirt, and a pair of socks in it before I stuff it in my pack.. Not the best clothing for cold weather but I figure in an emergency it sure beats layers of wet clothes, and hopefully buys me enough time to get to safety... Not to mention it can be rolled up small so as to not take up much pack space...

"dry bags" will keep clothes completely dry even if submerged and I found out kayaking that they float as well!
Typically you'd be able to find them in the kayaking/canoeing section of your local sporting goods store

[SARKY]

As a cold weather survival Instructor (CWST) I have to ask, wouldn't it be easier to keep your canteens inside your clothing to keep them warm? In fact, instead of melting snow in a pot which can be dangerous, wouldn't it be better to put snow in your canteen, stuff it in your clothing and allow it to melt as you walk (making heat).

[trax]

Over all I'd say an excellent post because even if one wants to find fault with some of the assertions, generally it's information that is going to keep a person a lot safer and healthier in cold conditions.

That rule of threes thing I've always had a problem with:

The reality is for most people if they go a day without food and are exerting themselves, their abilities are going to begin to become impaired. Two days tops. After all you're burning calorie and not taking any in, you're on a crash diet that you really didn't plan for. Three weeks without food and you're dead, so yeah you have to look after some other essentials immediately but don't marry yourself to any specific "rule" If you're the one in the survival situation do everything you can to stay calm and you'll figure out what you need to do.

[lucznik]

Yup, I'm sure. During one combat exercise I had made the mistake of washing my feet and face with water and soap. Ended up having frostbites on both areas. On your skin there is a thin layer of fat. It protects you from cold. Don't take it away.

After thinking about this a bit, I think what we have here is just a small language-translation problem. So, just for clarification...

In English we would say that the skin has natural oils (not fat) which perhaps one might not want to wash off.

[Old GI]

After thinking about this a bit, I think what we have here is just a small language-translation problem. So, just for clarification...

In English we would say that the skin has natural oils (not fat) which perhaps one might not want to wash off.

As a Full-Figured-Freedom-Fighter, it's fat.