Hypothermia
Disease of the Ill Prepared
Hypothermia
Our part of the world is very wet and the combination of this wetness, cool or cold temperatures and remote outings makes hypothermia a significant threat to safety, especially for the ill prepared.
It is vital that Adult Leaders understand and respect the threat of hypothermia, plan for the wetness and cold that comes with the outdoors, and watch for changing weather conditions and the status of our Scouts and other Adult Leaders.
Disease of the Ill Prepared
Weather, particularly in the mountains, can change quickly. It is also common to encounter the unexpected in the wilderness, such as a washed out trail, horrible weather, an injury or something else that turns a relatively easy day outing into an overnight fight for survival.
Those who fall victim of hypothermia are generally the ill-prepared. We embolden our Scouts to take responsibility for themselves, but our Adult Leaders are still ultimately responsible for the safety and welfare of our youth. And has experienced wilderness guides will tell you, even adults will surprise you in what they don't know, don't do or didn't pack.
It is vital that ALL Adult Leaders on outings get proper training in Wilderness First Aid and keep an eye on our youth and each other.
For Winter Outings, we recommend that you take the Baby it's Cold Outside Course (it's free and informative) and our Council's Winter Skills Adventure Program.
Downward Spiral
Being wet and cold can have a huge impact on motivation. Those with limited experience in harsh conditions may fail to take very basic precautions to protect themselves. This results in lowering of their body's core temperatures. As core temperature drops, so does brain function. At a certain point, those with hypothermia are no longer able to take care of themselves. This results in a further temperature loss and more severe problems such as severe loss of cognition, inability to walk, cardiac failure and eventually death.
The key is to avoid getting to the early stages of hypothermia. Avoiding this, means avoiding the downward spiral.
Stages and Treatment of Hypothermia
It is vital that Adult Leaders are able to identify the Stages of Hypothermia and are able to treat them appropriately.
See Stages of Hypothermia for more on this.
Leaders on outings should be familiar with Mechanisms of Heat Loss, Hypothermia Evac and Cold Water Immersion.
Frostbite is generally not a concern on our outings, but Leaders should be familiar with prevention and treatment.