Brrr! It's Cold Out There!

Today is Hell is Freezing Over Day. On this day, the Northern Hemisphere will experience some of the chilliest weather it will see all year. Extreme cold occurs when temperatures are rapidly going to fall below freezing within a 24-hour period and will remain like that for the next couple of days. Here is some advice you’ll need to know to survive it.

• Minimize your travel outdoors when temperatures are below zero degrees.
• While traveling, let a third party (who isn’t going with you) know where you are going in the event something goes wrong, so search parties know where to start their looking for you.
• When outside, cover your mouth to protect your lungs.
• Take a break every hour you are outside to hydrate and warm up.
• Cover all exposed skin to lessen the risk of frostbite.
• While traveling, wear 3-4 layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing, and a hat that covers your ears. Make sure your gloves are snug at the wrist.
• When it's extremely cold, the best way to layer is to start with a base layer that wicks away sweat. The middle layer, or insulating layer, should be used to retain heat. The outer layer, or shell layer, should protect from the elements, like freezing rain and high winds.
• Wear two pairs of socks with snugly fitted boots. To find a pair of properly fitted boots, check out https://vocal.media/lifehack/going-shoe-shopping.
• Winter goggles not only protect your eyes from the wind, but it’ll protect them from snow blindness. Snow blindness is when sunlight reflects off the snow and into your eyes like a mirror, causing temporary blindness.
• Always put on a jacket when heading outside, even if it’s for five minutes.
• Try to stay dry and out of the wind the best you can.
• Remove layers to prevent sweating underneath. You want to be warm, not hot.
• Once cotton gets wet, it does nothing to insulate you, so focus on wearing wool and fleece fabrics, while silk or polyester can work well as base layers.
• Be prepared to stay warm during a power outage. For tips on how to do this, visit https://vocal.media/lifehack/staying-warm.
• Check yourself for signs of hypothermia and frostbite every few hours as these can happen indoors as while as out.
• You’ll want to avoid alcohol and caffeine during bitter times, as they can create a false sense of warmth.
• Cook a nice, hearty meal like a stew with freshly baked bread to not only heat up your belly but also your home.
• If there is snow, don’t eat it, as this will make you feel colder over time. Stick to warm liquids like warm water and tea.
• Only seek shelter in your car as a last resort, as the CO2 can back up inside the vehicle if the exhaust is blocked.
• Do not use fuel-based heaters indoors without proper ventilation, as this can lead to CO2 poisoning. Symptoms of CO2 poisoning are but are not limited to nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, and weakness.
• Don’t sleep directly on hardwood or concrete floors as this will soak up your body heat like a dry sponge. Always put something between you and the floor, whether it be a blanket, a sleeping pad, or a dry towel.
• Batteries tend to freeze in the cold, so rub them in your hands to warm them up prior to use.
• You’ll want to turn on your taps to prevent the pipes from freezing during the night. Turn on the cold tap to create a small steady drip. A droplet should fall every three seconds.
• Wrap your metal pipes in the basement with insulating materials like old towels to keep them from freezing and breaking.
• Cover your water tanks with a tank blanket that you can buy at a hardware store.
• To prevent heat leakage, place rugs or blankets on hardwood or concrete floors.
• Movement generates heat, so turn your cold house into a dance party.

For more information on surviving winter, visit https://vocal.media/earth/winter-is-here-hpj30hg2.