While many common hiking injuries can be treated quickly with little aid and no lasting or dangerous effects, there is one injury that many hikers underestimate while they are out on the trails: Hypothermia.
Most hikers brush it off as an occurrence that only really happens under really low temperatures and snowy weather, but is this really the case? How do you know if you are suffering under hypothermia, and is it something you can just ignore and continue on your merry way?
What is hypothermia?
First, we need to actually define what hypothermia is, and why it is quite dangerous.
Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, which is around below 35°C. (or 95°F)
There are two types of hypothermia in play here.
Exposure Hypothermia is what happens when someone is exposed to cold enough temperatures for far too long. When this happens, the body is unable to shiver any further, due to lack of energy. Shivering is what it does to warm itself up when it becomes too cold, placing a person in a precarious situation if left untreated.
Immersion Hypothermia on the other hand, happens when the body is exposed to something extremely cold, like icy water, where the freezing temperature quickly overwhelm the body’s heat and heat production.
Causes of hypothermia
As it turns out, the belief that hypothermia only happens to hikers hiking in extremely cold temperatures and weather is wrong.
Hypothermia can strike in practically almost any environment and scenario, so long as the conditions that cause your body to lose heat faster than it can produce exist.
Here are some factors that can affect your body as such:
Temperature – Hiking out in cold temperatures might not necessarily be dangerous, but it also depends on the amount of clothing you are wearing. Colder temperatures present a bigger risk.
Dangerous environment – Accidents on the trail are not uncommon. People can slip and fall into streams or rivers, leaving them soaking wet and cold. more
Poor health – As the body will be weaker, it will have a much more difficult time heating itself up, as it has a much difficult time to metabolize and give itself sufficient heat.
Lackluster clothing/equipment – This works in tandem with poor weather conditions or environments.
If you do not have enough layers on, your clothing will be unable to block as much of the cold as it should, having your temperature constantly low as a result.
On the other hand, if you do not have waterproof clothing, you have a higher risk of contracting hypothermia should you fall into a body of water. A body that is wet loses heat 20 times as fast as a dry one, especially since your clothes will absorb a lot water, putting you in significant risk of exposure. This is why you want to change out of your clothes as soon as possible, should you get caught under the rain without an umbrella or raincoat.
Weather – Snow can indeed be a cause for hypothermia, but rain shouldn’t be scoffed at either. As mentioned above, getting wet under the rain is practically the same as falling in a body of water, and the end result is a body with a lower core temperature.
Dehydration and starvation – Should you fail to consume enough food and water, the body will struggle to support itself in different functions, as it does not have enough energy to do things properly.
One of these functions is the metabolism provided by food and water, which helps in heating you up from the inside. But without proper food and water, your body will instead struggle to even be able to shiver to warm itself up.
Symptoms of hypothermia
Hypothermia is a gradual process, and the sooner that it can be found and treated, the better. Make sure to watch if someone might be close or is being afflicted by it so treatment can begin as soon as possible.
This goes doubly so if you are hiking solo, as the only person you will be able to rely on is yourself.
Here are the symptoms of hypothermia that you should be aware of while on the trail:
Mild to moderate hypothermia
- Shivering (If a person cannot stop themselves from shivering, their hypothermia is worsening)
- Slurred/Incoherent speech
- Loss of balance
- Slow response
Mild hypothermia can be treated quickly by getting out of the elements, warming up with some layers, and getting a snack as well as a drink to energize you. When treated early, hypothermia will not pose too much of a threat, and the afflicted person can walk it off.
Severe hypothermia
- Shivering completely stops
- Pale skin color
- Extreme weakness
- Dilated eyes
As the situation has grown extremely dire, you will need to get the afflicted individual out of the hostile environment and into a hospital as fast as possible.
How to prevent hypothermia
It is better to be prepared while hiking and to prevent hypothermia from occurring in the first place, as to not endanger your life.
Adequate clothing – Wear lots of layers when needed. Coats, pants, and hats. Avoid using clothing with cotton, as to prevent water absorption. Instead, wear clothing with synthetic materials.
Proper hydration and Nutrition – Having food and water on hand will help give your body a boost of energy to heat itself up when needed.
Observe weather forecasts – If you are not confident on hiking, especially when unfavorable weather is incoming, it might be a good idea to hold off for a while until it passes. If you choose to hike anyways, you will at least be aware and prepared for what is to come.
Wrapping up
Hypothermia is something that should not be ignored, as it has caused the deaths of many an unprepared adventurer. It can strike at any time, which is why adequate preparation is key to prevent it from happening.