Dangers of getting cold in the wilderness

It is important to know how to get warm in all kinds of weather conditions, whether you are backpacking, living off grid, or in a survival situation. This is a lot tougher than it seems when you are far away from civilization.

You will need to fit everything that you need into your pack or have a place for it in your shelter. This means that you probably won’t have space for a hot tub or a fancy generator. Staying warm in the winter is a very serious matter because the dangers of getting cold go far beyond a runny nose or a case of the chills.

Dangerous effects of getting cold:

• Sluggish. You will begin to feel sluggish, zapped of energy, and sleepy as your body cools. This may prevent you from moving fast enough to survive in an emergency. If you are too sluggish, you may not have enough energy to complete physically demanding tasks like acquiring food or building a shelter.
• Brain fog. When your blood cools, slows, and brings less oxygen to your brain, you will experience brain fog. As a result, you may feel confused and your decision making skills could be negatively affected.
• Shivering. Uncontrollable shaking is one of the first signs that the cold is affecting you. It makes it difficult to care for your essential needs and do tasks like knot tying and starting fires. Shivering can have a mental impact even on the toughest survivors.
• Frostnip and frostbite. When the water molecules in your body begin to freeze, frostbite can irreversibly damage your skin, muscles, and nervous system. Frostnip is an early warning sign and the stage before frostbite. Try to catch it before it escalates or better yet, take measures to prevent frostnip in the first place.
• Hypothermia. Hypothermia sets in when your body’s core temperature drops below 95° F. According to the internet, Hypothermia is the cause of at least 1,500 deaths a year just in the United States. Many of those people could have survived if they had been properly prepared with the right knowledge.

This is another reason why I’m glad that I moved to the Big Island of Hawai’i. We do get snow on the mountain (for those of you who can’t imagine a life without snow), but the weather stays at a survivable temperature in most places and never drops to a severely cold level. This lowers your risk of experiencing the negative effects of cold weather in a survival situation.

Frostnip and Frostbite

Frostnip happens when tissues cool and blood vessels constrict. While it is not permanent, it is a slippery slope. If left untreated, you will quickly slip into frostbite territory. The alarming truth is that there’s no coming back from that. Once your tissues get damaged by frostbite, those cells are dead.

Here are some signs of frostnip and frostbite:

• Cold or numbness in the affected area
• Pale or red skin
• “Pins and needles” feeling in the area
• Itchy, tingly, or clammy skin
• Loss of sensation
• Loss of elasticity and pliability in your skin
• Increasing pain

Frostnip is irritating and the symptoms include, a cold or numb feeling in the affected area, pale or red skin, and even the “pins and needles” prickling of restricted blood flow. Your skin will feel itchy, tingly, and maybe clammy. At this point the texture is not a good indicator of potential damage because frostnip doesn’t affect your skins softness or pliability.

If you cannot get the affected skin warm again, you will have to watch out for frostbite. Signs of frostbite include: skin turning pale or white, loss of sensation to cold, loss of elasticity and pliability in skin, and increasing pain. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do for frostbite other than warm yourself up to avoid further damage. Total prevention is the best plan of action.

Frostnip vs Frostbite in 120 seconds

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is much more worrisome than frostbite because it can quickly lead to death. If you get hypothermia when you are alone in the wilderness, it is basically a death sentence unless you rapidly move to treat it. Here are some signs of hypothermia that you need to be aware of.

• Shivering
• Slurred speech
• Weak pulse
• Shallow breathing
• Lack of coordination
• Confusion and memory loss
• Loss of consciousness

It is very difficult to self-diagnose hypothermia due to the fact that you may be experiencing confusion, memory loss, and have the potential to go unconscious. If you suspect hypothermia at any point, you must take immediate action and warm yourself up.

How to Survive Hypothermia like a Navy SEAL (Eastmans’ and Sitka Gear)

How to stay warm in the harsh winter wilderness

By now you can see that the complications of cold weather survival can be life-threatening. Your best bet for survival is definitely going to be prevention and mitigating damage.

What do you do if you ever find yourself stuck in the cold for a prolonged period of time and caught completely off guard? Know that all is not lost and remain hopeful. Your knowledge may be all the prepping that you will need. Below I will talk about my tried and true tips and tricks for staying warm in a harsh winter.

7 Basic Rules of Winter Survival:

1. Stay Dry. Wet clothes in the winter are an invitation for frostbite and hypothermia. I know that it’s difficult to stay dry in rain and snow, but this is why you should have two extra sets of dry clothes in your pack. Wear your warm, dry clothes while you sleep and dry your adventuring clothes overnight.
2. Cover your mouth. This has nothing to do with manners and everything to do with preventing freezing air from entering your lungs. This is an especially vital tip if you have asthma, a cold, or are prone to breathing issues.
3. Avoid Overexertion. Building a shelter and finding food is important, but not at the cost of overexerting yourself. If you overexert yourself, you will quickly become drenched with sweat and the sweat can cause you to quickly become hypothermic.
4. Don’t sit still for two long. There is a fine line between overexertion and not moving enough. Try to keep moving without overexerting yourself because inactivity will slow your heart and cool your body. Passive exercise works really well in tight quarters.
5. Wear loose layers. Multiple layers can trap air between them. This will make you warmer than wearing just one thick layer. Wear three to five layers and make sure that your top layer is wind and water resistant.
6. Stay close to your shelter. You will need to find food and water, but don’t stray too far away from your shelter. You could get stranded by an unexpected change of weather that will lead to your demise. This is why it is so important for you to familiarize yourself with your surroundings during the daylight hours.
7. Never sleep on the ground. The ground is cold and often wet especially in the mornings. If possible, build some kind of platform to get yourself off of the ground. Even a layer of plastic bags or a tarp would be better than sleeping on the ground so get creative.

Shelter is your top priority

You better be prepared to work because shelter needs to be your top priority for survival especially in the winter.

Shelter provides protection from the elements (rain, snow, biting winds) and is a place to store your precious gear and supplies. You must hunker down and stay alive and that is impossible without shelter. The winter months are severely unforgiving so build a shelter that can withstand the harshest elements.

5 Types of Winter Wilderness Shelters:

1- Tree and Bush Shelters

You should not base your whole winter survival plan on tree and bush shelters. It is uncomfortable and not sustainable or suitable for long-term survival. Also, you cannot start a fire under this kind of shelter and you will need to start a fire at some point if you hope to survive. In a pinch when you have not other option and time has run out, this kind of shelter could keep you alive.

1. Spruce trees are well-suited for shelters because they provide a sturdy and nearly impenetrable canopy. They often have a thick bed of needles beneath them which can be fashioned into a bed. Plus the trunks are often big enough to provide a natural windbreak.
2. If you can’t find a spruce tree in your area, you can use any tree that has a thick trunk and an ample canopy. Avoid trees that are leaning to one side or have roots coming out of the ground. Heavy snow could topple them over.
3. If the branches are too close to the ground then cut or break some off so that you have space.
4. In a pinch, you can slide under heavy brush or inside evergreen bushes. Just watch out for animals that may be hiding in these places.

Keep this type of shelter small to maximize the warmth. Pile debris around all sides of the shelter. It can act as insulation and keep your body heat from escaping.

How to make a Winter Survival Shelter – Mountain Hut – Solo Bushcraft / Survival Overnight

The shelter that this gentleman constructs is free-standing and more elaborate than what I just described. If you have the time and supplies, it’s worth trying.

2- Hollowed Logs

Hollowed logs work a lot like the tree and bush shelters. You may need to dig into them to create a little more space, but they are raised off the ground and provide cover so it’s a decent trade-off.

• Find a tree with a trunk that is starting to rot from the inside out. This means that the center of the log will be brittle or partially hollow, but the outside will be intact.
• Use a trowel, strong shovel, or axe to carve away the center of the log and hollow out an area that is big enough for you to climb inside. Watch out for large insects.
• Once the tree interior is relatively clean, climb inside.
• For additional warmth, you can pile debris around the open end of the log to keep the cold air out and body heat in. Make sure that you still have a way for fresh air to get in at night.

A hollowed log can be great in an emergency if you happen to stumble across the right tree at the right stage of decay. It will take too much time to hollow out a tree or log that isn’t somewhat rotten.

Similarly to the tree and bush shelters, you don’t want to rely on a log shelter for too long. In a pinch, it is a great way to get you out of the elements, but it is impractical for an extended stay.

SLEEPING IN A HOLLOW LOG, Survival Shelter, Solo Overnighter, 17 degrees

3- Tarp Shelter

A tarp shelter is easy to construct if you have some basic survival gear in your bug out bag. All you need is a tarp and a little military grade para-cord to stay warm and dry. A roll of duct tape would be helpful to close up the ends of the shelter.

For the following draping techniques, keep one end higher than the other. This will give you space to crawl in and will allow the rain and snow to roll off the other side. The duct tape will keep the flaps in the back shut. If you don’t have duct tape, you can use heavy rocks to weigh the tarp down and prevent it from flapping in the wind.

1. Drape your tarp over a large log, low branch or fallen tree. This will be sufficient for a temporary shelter for 1-2 days. Heavy rocks on the outside edges can keep the wind out.
2. For a larger shelter, drape your tarp over a tall bush or branch around chest-height or taller. This is typically suitable for 1-7 days. It’s a good choice for a hunting or trapping camp.
3. For a taller shelter, string para-cord or rope tightly in the trees then drape the tarp over the rope. This cord and tarp shelter offers more space for a survival fire and a little more leg room without sacrificing heat retention. This option is great for a longer stay. It provides an excellent base that you can add layers to for additional insulation. As long as your cord holds and your frame is solid, you can add more wind and rain protection to the top. Plastic sheeting, branches, newspapers, and animal skins work well for this kind of shelter.

15 Shelters with a Tarp | Camping & Bushcraft

4- Snow Trench

A snow trench can save your life especially if the conditions are so bad that you can’t get under a tree or construct a tarp tent before dark. A lot of people are hesitant at the thought of constructing a warm shelter from snow because isn’t snow cold?

Well, it is, but it is also an excellent construction material that is highly insulating. I was surprised too, but it’s definitely true!

1. Dig a narrow trench in the snow to mid- thigh that is slightly wider than your shoulders.
2. Place sticks, branches, boards or poles across the trench to create a stable roof frame. Use more branches, tarps, blankets, or plywood to completely cover the top of the trench.
3. Your final roof layer will be snow (which is an excellent insulator.) Cushion the inside of your trench with leaves, blankets, or plastic bags. Now slide in! Your body will provide enough heat to keep you alive until daybreak.

Winter Survival – 15 minutes shelter

5- Lean-To

A lean-to is a basic survival shelter that consists of a horizontal main support across the top with branches or sticks leaning against this support on one or both sides.

1. Find a straight and sturdy branch to place between two trees. You can support it by placing each end of this branch into the V of two branches or bind it to the trees with rope or cordage.
2. For smaller shelter, construct a lean-two with one end in a tree and the other on the ground. This will create a smaller shelter that will help you keep in the heat.
3. Lean smaller branches along each side of the shelter. This will complete the structure.
4. For insulation, pile debris against the framework in cascading layers from the ground up. A thicker debris pile will provide more insulation and help you stay warmer at night.

Lean-Tos are easy to make with a variety of supplies. Branches, wood planks, ski poles, or anything you can find can create a sturdy frame for your shelter. Lean-to’s are excellent for long-term survival.

It is as simple as leaning branches or poles against another sturdy object to create a space below that is big enough for you to lay and sit in.

Bushcraft: How to make a lean-to shelter from only natural materials – survival shelter

Fire Use

Shelter, food, water, and fire are the 4 things that will keep you alive. Fire can be extremely difficult to create and maintain winter conditions so it is best for you to prepare ahead of time. Keep a fire-starting kit in your BOB, your car, and your workplace so that you’re never caught off-guard. If you ever find yourself in the dead of winter with no matches or lighter you can try some of these fire-starting methods that don’t require a lighter.

Start collecting firewood right away. Collect whatever you can find and hang it on your pack to dry as you walk. If it’s snowing or raining, stick it inside of your pack. While it won’t dry very fast in there, at least it won’t get any wetter.

You will require a significant amount of kindling for winter fires. Smaller is better so snap the wood into smaller pieces and bits.

It may be tempting to start a roaring fire, but resist that urge. Everything is scarce and hard to find so conserve your firewood and resources. Keep your fire small and protected and feed it only enough to keep it burning. Prepare to scrounge in the coals the next morning for anything that’s dry and still burnable.

How to stay warm overnight

During the day, you can stay warm by moving your body, but at night your breathing slows down and your body cools off. You will need warm layers, a dry shelter, and good insulation to survive the night. Use the following methods to create a little more warmth.

• Survival Blankets trap heat and can keep you warm in the coldest weather. They are light enough to pack and carry around, yet sturdy enough for tougher uses like a temporary roof for a snow trench.
• Tea Candles are tiny, but surprisingly good heaters. They are easy to pack in your BOB and weight next to nothing. In a well-constructed shelter, one small tea candle is enough to stay warm. Make sure that you place your tea candle in a place that won’t set you or your shelter on fire. I like placing them in tall mason jars near the sealed back of the shelter.
• Plastic bags, newspapers, plastic sheets, leaves, and evergreen boughs make great sleeping mats and can keep you warm if you don’t have a blanket.
• Handwarmers are lightweight, cheap, and easy to use. Keep a few in your BOB for times when you can’t get a fire going or it would be dangerous to start one.
• Hot stones from your fire can prolong the heat production in your shelter without the risk of starting a fire. Place them around you at bedtime.
• Make sure that your socks are dry before you go to bed. It doesn’t take long for damp socks to freeze even inside of a good sleeping bag.
• Keep your blood flowing with passive exercise. You can tense and relax your muscles for a few minutes to raise your body temperature. This works great in sleeping bags.

Essential Winter Survival Gear

Many online articles cover general survival gear, but I couldn’t find many good ones for winter-specific conditions. Here is my personal winter survival gear list. Add these items to your Bug Out Bag and you will be well-equipped to survive the harshest winter conditions.

• Small shovel. This will come in handy when you are constructing emergency shelters or foraging for food.
• Hatchet for cutting down small trees and digging out logs.
• Three extra layers of clothing. I always wear wool socks. I bring workout clothing and longjohns. Pack whatever will fit under your regular clothes and will fit into your BOB. Choose loose fitting items that will dry quickly.
• Baclava, ski mask, face shields or a bandana
• Have two pairs of important clothing so you can wear one while the other dries.
• Hand warmers
• Extra wool socks. Pack two more than you think you need.
• Fire starting equipment: lighter, matches, flint and steel, and some dry kindling
• Canteen to keep close to your body (under your clothes), to ensure that you always have water.

Tip: Synthetic materials dry very quickly if they get wet and are a good alternative to cotton clothing. Always stay away from cotton underpants in the backcountry.

Conclusion

Winter survival is not for the faint of heart and it is not going to be fun. It can be done if you are prepared. Remember to get creative and don’t give up in the middle of a problem.

Do you have any winter survival tips and tricks? Please comment to share. I would love to hear your ideas.

See you soon!

The post How to stay warm in the harsh winter wilderness appeared first on Prepper Facts.

You don’t want your emergency water to freeze

It’s obvious that frozen water in an emergency is bad news that goes beyond the minor inconvenience it may cause in everyday life. Frozen water is a threat to your health in an emergency and can cause significant damage to your property.

Frozen water is a prepper’s worst nightmare in the winter

• It is dangerous to consume frozen water. I’m sure that we have all heard the advice to avoid eating snow (especially if you read my article about finding drinkable water in the winter wilderness.) This advice also applies to your frozen water supply. If you consume ice, you will end up lowering your core body temperature. In a survival situation, that could lead to uncontrollable shivers, hypothermia, and eventual death.
• Frozen water is a destructive force. People often think of water freezing in their ice cube trays and it doesn’t paint a picture of danger. The harsh reality is that frozen water can and will destroy whatever you are storing it in if it isn’t properly stored. When water freezes, it expands about 10%. A few common problems with frozen water are exploding water bottles, bursting pipes, and busted emergency water barrels. A busted water pipe would be annoying in everyday life, but imagine how devastating it would be in an emergency situation when you are depending on it for survival.
• Frozen water is contaminated easily. Frozen water has a higher likelihood of contamination. This is because the expansion of water puts added stress on pipes, seals, and other aspects of your water system. Your entire emergency water supply could easily become contaminated by the tiniest crack in your system. You won’t even know that it’s contaminated until you consume it and end up sick. The frightening truth is that parasites and bacteria can lay dormant in ice then come back to life once thawed. You may not have the luxury of a stove or even a basic survival fire and that will limit your chances of purifying the block of ice that used to be your emergency water supply.
• Thawing ice is a huge waste of energy. When you need to use your emergency water supply, chances are that both inside and outside of your home will be cold. Any method of melting the ice will require significant amounts of energy. Don’t waste it.

How to keep your outdoor emergency water from freezing

Indoor water storage is ideal, but I wouldn’t be a very good prepper if I didn’t also offer solutions for outdoor water storage. I keep a significant portion of my emergency water stored outdoors in large tanks. I do this simply because there isn’t a lot of extra space in my home and I still want to have a lot of water just in case.

There are some anti-freezing methods that require more planning and cost more money, but can yield better results. I also have options for you if you have limited time, space, and money.

Method #1 Store your water underground

First, find out the depth of the frost line in your area. This is the depth at which the ground is expected to freeze. Home builders regularly use this information while planning the construction of the home’s foundation.

Acquire this information at your local building department or by visiting this website to get a general idea of where the frost depth is in your area. Once you know that depth, you can store your water below that level so it will be protected from freezing.

Underground water storage ideas (below the frost line):

• Underground water storage tank
• Airtight containers of water (55 gallon drums)
• Large PVC pipes capped at both ends that are full of water

No matter what container you choose to use, make sure that the top of your water container is below the frost depth. Careful measuring is crucial because you don’t want any part of it peeking above ground. When in doubt, bury it deeper than you think you need to.

You won’t be taking up precious indoor space with your water supply safely stored underground. Additionally, it will be hidden from looters. The downside is that your water won’t be easy to access or portable. You will also need to make sure that it is in close proximity to your shelter or build a shelter nearby.

Pro Tip: A larger tank is better since larger masses of water take longer to freeze.

Method #2 Use steel tanks to absorb heat

Even if you can’t bury your water tank underground, there are still ways to prevent your emergency water from freezing when it’s stored above ground. For example, large, steel tanks can absorb heat from the sun and prevent freezing.

• Make sure that your tank has maximum sun exposure. The more sunlight exposure on your water tank, the better. Make sure that it is out in the open and not shaded. Southern exposure is best for those in the United States or other countries in the Northern hemisphere.
• Paint the kettle (water tank) black. Black absorbs light (energy) while light colors like white will reflect it. Painting your water tank black will help it absorb the maximum amount of warmth from the sun.
• Insulate your water tank. Wrap your water tank with insulation from your local home improvement store. In a pinch you can use foam, newspapers (if they can be kept dry), or blankets. Any insulation will help the container retain the heat it has collected.
• Position your tank to touch the outside of your home. Only do this if it is structurally safe. Remember that water weighs a lot -over 8 pounds per gallon. You can produce a heat sink that will allow your tank to absorb some of the warmth from the wall of your home by firmly mounting your tank against an outside wall.

If you don’t get a lot of sun then this method will be less effective for you.

Method #3 Use a greenhouse

Greenhouses are much warmer inside than the outside even in the winter. You can even increase the temperature by keeping a compost pile inside of the greenhouse. Did you know that compost piles can reach up to 170 °F? Even if the compost doesn’t get very hot in the winter time, the smallest temperature increase can keep a large water tank warm enough to prevent freezing.

The downside of this method is that vermin and rodents with be attracted to the warmth and the compost itself.

Method #4 Store water in your car

It’s a no-brainer that your Bug Out Bag in your vehicle should include a personal water supply. You should keep extra bottles of water in the cab of your car, not the trunk. When you start your car, the water will get warm and the cab will retain heat for awhile which will decrease the chance of frozen water. This is especially true if you sleep in your car because your body heat will keep your water supply from freezing.

Pro tip: For the best results, store your water on the seats rather than the floor.

Method #5 Store water in a cooler

I’m very fond of storing my water supply in a regular camping cooler. The properties that keep my beer frosty and cold in the summer will keep my emergency water supply from freezing in the winter. The key to success is to only open the cooler when absolutely necessary.

Recharge the warm air inside by opening your cooler near a fire. If your cooler has a metal lining, you can place a heated stone from your fire inside to prevent your water from freezing.

Should you use water additives?

I have never found a safe or reliable additive that will prevent freezing. This is another reason why I wanted to move to a warm place (Hawai’i). I was tired of my water freezing in my car.

The biggest issue with using an additive to prevent your water from freezing is that you’ll eventually have to drink it. Or you will have to figure out a way to remove the additive before drinking it.

• Salt. Your drinking water is not going to taste very good if you add enough salt to prevent freezing. Also, the amount of salt you would need to add can be dangerous. As a whole, every prepper knows that drinking salt water is never a good option. Not to mention it can cause dehydration and too much sodium can lead to heart problems and kidney issues.
• Sugar. Some preppers suggest using sugar based additives, but we can debunk this myth by looking at popsicles. A popsicle is literally colored sugar water and it has no trouble freezing.
• Alcohol. I have heard of preppers spiking their water to prevent freezing, but I’m unwilling to try this method. Alcohol can impair your decision making skills and it has lasting effects on your body that can lead to health issues. Consuming alcohol is also an invitation for hypothermia because alcohol causes blood vessels near your skin to dilate. That moves blood and heat away from your core which lowers your body’s temperature.

I think that additives are risky and not worth the risk. I would rather use a different method that doesn’t cause kidney damage and dehydration.

Conclusion

Water freezes from the top down so you should store your personal water containers (bottles, canteens, thermoses) upside down, with the lid on the bottom.

I hope that you learned something new today. What challenges are you having with your water storage? Have you figured out ways to prevent your water from freezing? Comment below to share!

The post How to keep your outdoor emergency water from freezing appeared first on Prepper Facts.

WARNING: Don’t eat the snow!

Before we get started, I must lay down the law. Don’t eat the snow! A bite of fresh snow might not hurt you in everyday life, but in a survival situation, it is best to avoid it. Eating snow can drastically lower your body temperature and put you at risk of getting hypothermia. Additionally, snow is known to to collect a significant amount of pollutants from the environment.

Where can you find water in a winter wilderness?

A water shortage is a major problem in any survival situation. However, it is even tougher to stay hydrated in the winter. In fact, it is much easier to become hydrated in the winter than it is in the summer. I was surprised when I first heard this too! The reason for this is that our human thirst response is diminished by up to 40% in the winter time. This means that you might not even know when you are severely dehydrated.

Now you know the importance of drinking water even when you are cold and surrounded by snow, but you shouldn’t eat the snow. So what should you do and how do you stay hydrated?

1- Melt snow or ice

When I went backpacking in the winter time for the first time, I melted snow and boiled it for drinking water. Back then, I felt comfortable doing this because we were at a high elevation in a super remote area that didn’t get traffic or much action. Knowing what I know now, I would do things a little differently.

If your only option is snow or ice, go for the ice first. It is easier to melt with less fuel and provides more water than snow. Additionally, it is less likely to contain the toxins that snow can absorb from its environment.

How to melt your snow or ice:

One of the easiest methods to melt snow or ice is to use a tripod and a piece of cloth. Create a tripod with three sticks or boards then hang a clean sock or other piece of fabric from the tripod. Place a clean container directly under the fabric to catch the melted snow. Fill the fabric with the cleanest snow or ice that you can find. Next, start a fire next to the hanging fabric. Alternatively, you could use a camp stove or even hand warmers to slowly melt the snow into the container below.

Remember to purify your melted snow or ice before you drink it. I survived off of the melted snow that I boiled in a pot, but I was 19 back then and nowadays I would take the extra precautions and purify my water.

Winter Bushcraft & Survival: Generating Water From Snow

2- Collect condensation from the inside of your shelter.

Even though it is cold and you’re not sweating very much, you are still constantly losing water. In the winter, your breath is the primary way that you lose water. Eventually, your body heat and breath will create condensation.

A small tent or properly constructed lean-to is well-positioned to be a water collection structure by collecting condensation. Angle some plastic bags on the inside of your roof. If your tent has air vents at the top, cover the vents with plastic. This will keep your body heat inside and will allow you to direct condensation towards a clean container or pot.

The size, shape, and location of your shelter will dramatically impact your success. Experiment with various angles to find the sweet spot for your shelter. If the angle of your plastic is too shallow then your precious condensation may freeze before it reaches the container. If the angle is too steep, it may drip on your while you sleep.

3- Search for running water in rivers and streams

If the water is moving then you won’t need to melt it. That’s one less stop and a lot less fuel that you’ll need to burn. You may need to break through the icy layer on top, but deeper water sources usually remain free-flowing beneath the ice.

Precautions:

Don’t rush to dive in and start chugging because cold water will lower your core body temperature. Also, you should consider any water that you find, contaminated and take the necessary measures to purify it. You can purify your water with the distillation method mentioned above, sunlight, filters, or purification tablets.

• Using water filters in the cold. Know that water filters can freeze. A frozen filter will result in a broken seal and cracked housing. A simple way to prevent the freezing of your water filter is to keep it with you as close to your body heat as possible. This is not ideal for a larger filtration system, but you can keep a smaller one in your pocket or pack.
• Using Water Purification Chemicals in cold weather. The chemicals you would use to treat your water are less effective in cold weather. You will need to warm up your water to get the most out of your purification chemicals, but this method will use much less fuel than boiling your water.

Water from streams, rivers, and springs can feel like a godsend to thirsty survivors, but you must proceed with caution. It is not only dangerous to drink unpurified water, but collecting water from those sources can be extra risky. Always avoid walking on ice. Use a long stick to thoroughly test the ground several feet ahead of you. The last thing you need is an impromptu dip in icy water. You can stay safer and extend your reach by attaching a collection container to the end of your stick or pole.

I personally think that this method is extremely risky and it is important to know how to get out of the ice if you accidentally fall in. I think this next video is helpful.

Ice Safety – How To Perform A Self Rescue

4- Collect Rainwater

Thankfully, it tends to rain more in the winter than other seasons. Take advantage of this seasonal feature and make an effort to collect the rain as it falls. Rain is a much more pure source of drinking water in a winter survival situation because it doesn’t absorb toxins as readily as snow does. Make sure that you collect the rain in a clean container.

You can use any type of waterproof material to assist with rain collection including:

• Plastic bags
• Tarps
• Plastic sheeting
• Rain Poncho

Stretch the material out between three or four trees and secure it at the corners. Next, place a clean rock in the center of your material. Rain will collect in the middle as it falls and will provide you with a good supply of water depending on the amount of rain.

You could poke a small hole in the material near the center and collect it from below in a bucket or canteen. I wouldn’t personally compromise my valuable fabric because I might need it later.

How to Collect Rain Water Using a Tarp

His climate is obviously different from what we are discussing here, but his approach demonstrates what I just described.

5- Purify your urine for drinking

This option is NOT at the top of my list for obvious reasons, but if you have run out of all other options, it’s something. There are ways that you can make urine safe to drink and I’ve covered them in my “Is It Safe To Drink Urine For Survival?” article.

Distillation is going to be your best bet in the winter. Distillation involves collecting your urine, boiling it, then collecting the vapors. This is very similar to the condensation collection method above. The drawback is that you’ll need to burn some fuel to make this work. Since you’ll be using your precious fuel to boil urine, you should use the same fire to cook food, dry your clothes (catch the vapors!), and warm your shelter.

How to keep your water from freezing

Now that you have found a source of safe, quality, drinking water, you need to keep it from freezing so that it is ready to drink. This can be extremely challenging in the harsh winter wilderness, but there are some things you can do to help.

Keep your water bottle close to your skin

Make sure that your water bottles and containers are fully closed then place them in your sleeping bag with you while you sleep. A good sleeping bag can retain your body heat for a significant amount of time.

Alternate ways to insulate your water bottles:

• Store them in socks.
• Wrap them in spare clothing, towels, blankets, tarps, plastic bags, or anything else that can hold heat.
• Keep them in your sleeping bag.

If your water is already frozen, do not use your body heat to warm it up. A cold bottle against your skin will quickly make your body temperature drop to dangerous levels. Melt it then put it in your sleeping bag or under your clothes.

If you have absolutely no other way of melting ice or snow, put the container between two layers of your clothes, but never directly on your skin. This is far from ideal, but it’s better than getting dehydrated, causing frostbite, or getting hypothermia.

CamelBak Warning:

Wearable water options are not ideal for winter survival. While CamelBaks and similar hydration systems work really well in warm weather, the tubes and nozzles tend to freeze quickly in cold temperatures.

Store your water bottles upside down

Ice forms from the top down. If you keep your bottle turned upside down, the bottom will freeze first and you will still be able to drink from the top. This works for any water container as long as it has a good seal.

Why can’t I just eat snow?

I know you’re probably thinking that if you were in a survival situation in the dead of winter, that water wouldn’t be an issue because you’d be surrounded by snow. The truth is that you shouldn’t eat snow for several reasons.

Reason #1: Hypothermia

Your body is already working extra hard to protect you from the external cold. If you consume frozen water, you will lower your core body temperature and put an inordinate amount of strain on your system.

In the dead of winter, there’s a strong chance that you may not be able to recover from that. Imagine bitter cold biting winds on the outside and frozen water running down your throat. That would be a perfect recipe for hypothermia.

Reason #2: Potentially Toxic Contaminants

In addition to the cold temperature, snow is also full of toxic chemicals. Each snow flake is a tiny net or scrubbing brush that falls slowly from the sky. On the way down it catches all the particles in the air.

A study conducted at McGill University in Montreal, Canada discovered that snow can absorb massive toxins in the air in as little as one hour. They found many pollutants in the snow including:

• Benzene
• Ethylbenzene
• Toluene
• Xylenes

Those pollutants remained in the water even after the snow melted.

What if the snow looks clean?

Many people believe that the snow is safe to eat if it’s white, but that’s just not true. You may be able to see dirt and black carbon (soot), but you cannot see things like sulfates and formaldehyde. Even if you are in a rural setting, you snow isn’t necessarily safer than city snow. There may not be as much city pollution in wilderness snow, but there is still a little.

In the wilderness you have to worry about bacteria and parasites from woodland creatures. The alarming truth is that pesticides can pop up in snow even decades after they were used, according to Staci Simonich (Professor of Environmental and Toxic Ecology at Oregon State University.) She even found 50 year old pesticides in higher elevations in many U.S. National parks.

Conclusion

Yikes! This whole conversation has made me feel thankful that I always melted and boiled snow before drinking it. At 5 years old, I knew that it was gross when some neighborhood boys were walking along the road with their sleds and picking up the gray snow on the road to eat.

Securing water in a winter survival situation is a complicated task. In a perfect world, you would have enough water with you to make it through any situation that you encounter. Still, you wouldn’t be much of a prepper if you didn’t have a few winter survival tricks up your sleeve.

I would love to hear about your winter survival tips and tricks! comment below to share!

The post How do you find drinkable water in the winter? appeared first on Prepper Facts.

Why it works

In the methods described below, you will essentially create a path of very low resistance for the energy to flow through. From the positive (+) terminal to the negative(-) terminal of the battery. Once this connection is established, the battery will put power through the material and make this connection possible. If the material is too thin and cannot handle this flow of electricity, it will heat up and eventually get red hot.

Chewing gum wrapper foil is perfect for this technique because the foil is very thin and has a paper backing. The thin foil easily heats up and the paper backing is an excellent fuel source that can help turn the heat into a flame. If you aren’t a gum chewer, it’s okay because you aren’t limited to gum wrappers. There are many other thin, conductive materials that create this same reaction.

You’ll need:

• A battery: If you have a working (battery operated) flashlight, then you have a battery to work with. If not, you can improvise. Search for anything that might have a battery like your cell phone, tablet, lantern, GPS, or any other battery powered device. You will want to avoid very small batteries like watch batteries because they cannot put out enough energy to make this technique work.
• Chewing gum foil: Chewing gum wrapper foil is ideal for this technique because it has a thin piece of foil on one side and usually a paper backing on the other side. If you don’t have this, then you can improvise. Aluminum foil can work if you have a big enough battery (such as a cell phone battery or a 9-volt battery.) You can also trim the foil down to make it thin enough. Your mission is to find something super thin and conductive.

How to start a fire with a battery and a gum wrapper

All you need is a battery from your flashlight (or another device) and a single gum wrapper to start a fire that will keep you from freezing. Make sure that you have an abundant supply of dry tinder and follow these steps.

1- Locate a AA battery.

If you have any electronic devices in your bugout bag, then you most likely have a AA battery. Whether it’s headphones, a flashlight, GPS, digital camera, or any other battery-powered device, you probably have a suitable battery. If not, you can also use a D, C, or AAA battery for this purpose.

2- Find a foil gum wrapper that has a paper lining.

Try to find a gum wrapper that has a paper lining. This will produce the best results. Unfortunately, this kind of wrapper is not as common as it used to be, but some popular brands still package their gum this way like Wrigleys or Big Red.

3- Prep your foil gum wrapper for lighting.

You can use a pair of scissors, your fingers, or a small knife for this step. Cut the wrapper lengthwise into three equal strips. This will provide you with three opportunities to start your fire. Next, cut each of these strips into an hourglass shape. Aim to make the hourglass measure about 1/16th of an inch at the center of the strip. The narrow center is the point of the foil wrapper that will spark and ignite into a flame. From there, the flame will spread to both sides of the wrapper.

4- Start your fire.

At this point, make sure that you have plenty of dry tinder ready and available. You will have just a few quick seconds to ignite your tinder with the flame created by the battery. Next, touch the foil side of both ends of the gum wrapper to the positive and negative ends (poles) of your battery. It’s important to protect your hands with gloves, a rag, or a scarf because this step can release some heat. Be prepared for the center of your wrapper strip to spark quickly. When it sparks, immediately light your tinder. Be ready because you will probably only have 1-2 seconds to ignite the tinder.

5- Troubleshoot mishaps.

If your fire doesn’t ignite with your first attempt, it’s okay because you have two more pieces of your gum foil strips. If your first strip didn’t spark and create a flame, it could mean that the hourglass shape in the center of the strip wasn’t thin enough. Trim down the center of your hourglass wrapper strip to make it thinner and try again.

Gum Wrapper Fire Starter | How To Start Fire With Battery And Gum Wrapper

Practice, practice, practice!

The know-how and skill of starting a fire without a modern fire-starter, lighter, or matches can be crucial for surviving the freezing cold winter temperatures. During snow storms, you will need to seek shelter in the forest or areas with overgrown shrubs if there are no buildings or shelters around.

Most people carry fire-starters in their pockets, cars, or emergency packs, but even the most prepared prepper can be caught off guard. Or the fire starter may be defective or broken. You must be prepared to improvise and ward off the cold in dangerous / extreme conditions. Practice this technique now when it isn’t a life or death situation and you will be confident and well prepared if you ever need it in the future.

How to use a 9-volt battery

The method above also works well with a 9-volt battery. Know that a 9-volt is a lot more powerful than a standard AA battery. If you try this technique, make your hourglass cut in the center of the foil strip wider than 1/16th of an inch.

When you use a powerful battery like a 9-volt, it gives you more material options than just a thin gum wrapper. These methods all operate on the same principle: too much electrical current through a conductive material that is too thin to handle it.

9-volt battery and steel wool

You can also use the method above to spark a fire with a 9-volt battery and steel wool. 9-volts are commonly used to power smoke and CO alarms, and other small appliances. You can also use two 1.5-volt batteries. Just remember that it’s less voltage so you’ll need a very thin material to pass the current through. You can use a loosened strand of fine steel wool.

9-volt battery + an incandescent light bulb

I just found out that halogen and incandescent light bulbs are being banned in the U.S. I’ll read about it and write about the reasons why soon.

The tungsten wire filaments within a standard incandescent light bulb reach reach high degrees of heat when electricity runs through them. You can start a fire fairly easy with this method since the wire inside of a 75-watt bulb can reach temperatures as high as 4600 degrees Fahrenheit. The biggest problem would probably be finding an incandescent light bulb if you are stranded in the woods or deserted country side (especially with the impending ban.)

However, if you happen to come across such a lightbulb and a 9-volt battery, then you may be in luck! Wrap the bulb in a rag or cloth then use a blunt object to gently break it. Take extra care and don’t damage the filament inside. Now carefully clear away the broken glass. Make sure that your bundle of dry tinder is next to you. Dry twigs, grass, and small branches work well for this. Next, touch the base of the lightbulb to the two opposite terminals of the battery. This should light up the filament. Touch the filament to your tinder and you’ll have a fire!

You can use your cell phone battery

You can start a fire with the powerful lithium battery that is inside of your cellphone or tablet. Desperate times call of desperate measures, right? While you probably wouldn’t want to use your cell phone battery (many of us are very attached to our devices), it is a feasible option that is good to know.

You can still use a foil chewing gum wrapper, but don’t trim the foil as thin as you would for a AA battery. The flow of electricity from your cellphone battery will be very powerful.

This is how you do it:

1. Prepare the battery. First, remove the battery from your phone or tablet and identify its positive and negative terminals. These two terminals are usually the outermost gold plates located at the top or bottom of the battery.
2. Prepare the conductive material. Next, form a thin log roll out of aluminum foil, foil lined paper, or fine steel wool. If you are using a chewing gum wrapper, you can roll it lengthwise into a log rather than trimming it. You want your material to be thicker than it was for the prior methods.
3. Prepare the tinder. Collect plenty of dry tinder. Take the amount that you think you need and double that. If it is challenging to locate dry tinder, think creatively. Search at the base of thick bushes and under rocks.
4. Shape your material and make contact. Shape the log roll of foil or steel wool into a U so that it can reach both the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals of the battery. Now touch the ends of the U to both battery terminals at the same time.
5. Light up your tinder. As the battery short circuits and sparks your material, light your tinder.

How to Start a Fire with a Cell Phone Battery ?

Can you get electrocuted while doing this?

Do you risk electrocution while attempting these fire-starting methods? This is a valid safety concern. Luckily for you or anyone else who is stranded in the bitter cold, the risks are almost non-existent. Nearly all of the standard batteries (like AAA, AA, C, D, or even 9-volt batteries) are not capable of producing enough electricity to harm a human.

Keep in mind that a cellphone (lithium) battery will have more kick in terms or electrical flow, but it is still only around 5 volts. You are pretty safe and should be more concerned about burning yourself than getting electrocuted.

If you would like to learn more fire starting techniques, visit:

Conclusion

There are various methods for utilizing the physics of electricity to start a fire, but one of the safest and easiest methods for most people is performed with a battery and a common gum wrapper.

Remember to practice it now that way you will be ready if you ever need to use this method in the future. Once you become proficient at this technique, I bet that you’ll remember to carry batteries and will search for the gum that has the appropriate kind of wrapper. And if you don’t need a wrapper to start a fire, it’s a nice uplifting boost to chew on some gum during a hike.

I trust that you are already more than prepared with a variety of fire starters. If not and if your supplies fail, at least you have this method for your tool box.

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The post How to start a fire with a battery and a gum wrapper appeared first on Prepper Facts.