Survival in the cold. How to survive in severe frost? You got naked in the cold

Winter is a difficult time for a car, and what can we say about harsh winters in the Russian North, where temperatures of minus 40 are common. Here you need to prepare thoroughly for a long journey, otherwise you can pay not only with your health, but also with your life.

The Siberian edition "" shared tips on how to survive on the road in winter, left alone with a broken car, and what to take with you when going on a long journey.

Every year, tragic cases of death on the road are recorded, when people die not in road accidents, but from frost. A car breaks down, a mobile phone dies, and the unlucky driver finds himself on the verge of life and death, left alone on a winter highway. How to effectively prepare for a long road, so as not to be powerless in the face of the elements of winter and cold? Practical advice about this is given by employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and experienced truck drivers.

There is a law on a frosty road: the salvation of a freezing person depends only on him. No one is immune from force majeure, so you need to be prepared for anything. And for everyone who finds himself in a car that has stalled or stuck in the snow, the first thing to do is to call the rescue service number 112. Otherwise, you can only rely on relatives and friends who will start looking for the missing driver. In the cold, the ability to make a fire will save life: the life-giving warmth will help you survive the hours of waiting.

“The most important thing in such a situation is to maintain common sense. You need to think clearly, not get confused and be aware of what you are doing. In the most extreme and hopeless case, if you are already completely freezing - yes, you even slept your car! After all, you can buy a car, you can’t buy life, ”says Vitaly Ryabov, a truck driver with many years of experience.

In winter, before a long journey, you need to carefully prepare the car: stock up on fuel to the eyeballs, carefully check the engine and battery, be sure to fill in high-quality antifreeze, and also take care of the thermal insulation of the body and hood, and insulate the seats.

While preparing for the trip, you should carefully study the route, noting cafes and settlements on the route. At the same time, it should be taken into account that at the gas station you may not even be allowed to warm up, because the gas station staff may be prohibited from doing this, they risk money. In case of unforeseen situations, it is better to rely on a cafe and in no case go at random.

“To go, you need to know which way. Sometimes people go in the opposite direction from the settlement. If you don't know where to go, don't go. You can’t navigate offhand: if you look at that star, I’ll get home, ”continues the driver of the heavy truck Vitaly Ryabov.

In case of an emergency, put in your trunk things that you may need in an emergency: paper tape, candles, bedspreads or plastic film for windows, quilts, warm clothes, a sapper shovel, candles, a thermos with hot drinks.

Experienced drivers never leave the garage in winter without first taking with them fur outerwear, as well as gloves, a hat and shoes with fur, and quilted blankets. It will be useful to wear thermal underwear. Be sure to take care of food supplies. Take at least a couple of sandwiches, chocolate, high-calorie nuts with you. Be sure to bring a thermos of hot drinks with you. Check the first aid kit, put in it all the medicines that you may need in an emergency.

Before the trip, you need not only to replenish the account on the phone and charge the batteries, but also not to be lazy and be sure to warn relatives, friends or even neighbors. If you do not get in touch, they will be able to sound the alarm - and help will come to you faster. In the event of an emergency, first of all, call 112 - this is a single emergency call number for dialing from all mobile operators and landlines. Also, users of MTS and MegaFon mobile networks can dial numbers 010, 101, Beeline users - 001 and 101.

If the engine is still stalled, the driver can be saved by a fire near the car. Therefore, on the road in winter, you must definitely take matches, and even better, take an alcohol lamp and candles with you. In extreme cases, you can burn tires. In this case, you must be careful with open fire and do not kindle it in the immediate vicinity of the machine.

“This is elementary - in the glove compartment you should always have a lighter, a couple of boxes of matches. You can slowly burn rags, branches. You can dig up the snow and get the grass. In extreme cases, you can always start burning tires. The car has five wheels, one spare, start with it, - advises an experienced driver Vitaly Ryabov. - In case the lighter does not work and there is no spare fuel, you can get fuel from the tank. To do this, you will need a sharp object like a screwdriver and a bottle. You can pierce the tank, collect fuel, splash it on branches or grass and set it on fire. Or just buy a couple of bottles of brazier lighter fluid and carry it with you in the trunk.”

Hot drinks in case of emergency can only help to rub yourself with alcohol, this is only in the case when you are already warm. You can’t drink in the cold, because you can lose control of the situation or fall asleep.

You can insulate the car by pasting the doorways around the perimeter with wide paper tape. The car door seal is not airtight, and duct tape will help eliminate drafts. Curtain windows - heat escapes through the glass most quickly. This can be done with blankets, rags or plastic wrap. As a result, you will find yourself in a car, like a bear in a den.

“You need to turn to others for help: wave your hands, slow down cars that pass by. In extreme cases, you can put the car across the road, then they will stop for sure, ”advises Vitaly Ryabov.

There must be a sapper shovel in the trunk, with which you can dig out a car that has flown off the road, or warm it with snow in anticipation of help. To do this, throw a small snow shaft up to the door threshold, which will allow you to isolate the bottom of the car from cold air.

Good luck on winter roads!

Many unforeseen situations can happen in life. One of these is the situation when you are left face to face with frost. Next, we will talk about how to survive in the cold - 15 tips. There are several situations in which a person may find himself in the cold.

How not to freeze in winter

1. Have you gone hiking and You have the advantage of going outside prepared and warmly dressed. Before such trips, you should prepare carefully and be prepared for the fact that you can get lost or something goes wrong. Here are some tips before you go camping.
2. Clothing. Dress like a cabbage. Put on more clothes: T-shirt, shirt, warm jacket and jacket. Wear mittens instead of gloves. Gloves can tighten your fingers and they will freeze much faster. It is recommended to keep fingers together. Shoes should be warm and with thick soles, preferably waterproof. Avoid shoes with tight laces, this will impede the circulation of blood in the body and significantly reduce the survival time in the cold. Wrap your face well with a scarf or any cloth. Ideally, if there is thermal underwear, it will help to keep warm longer.
3. 20 minutes before going out, grease your face with an anti-barrier cream. It can be bought at any pharmacy. If there is no such cream, use a children's fat cream. This will create a protective film on the skin and prevent frostbite for longer.
4. Eat a hearty meal before going out. While your body is busy digesting food, the heat will remain as long as possible.
5. Bring a thermos of warm tea with you. You will need it in winter.
6. Remember to move as long as you are moving, you will stay conscious as long as possible. But do not overdo it, because the energy in such a situation is very important.
7. If it happened that on a snowy track in winter your car broke down and you were left unprepared in the middle of the road.
8. It is not recommended to go far from the car. Waiting for help near him is more prudent than wandering around the track. When the car has cooled down, you should not stay inside the iron box. The exception is strong winds. If the street is calm, then get out of the car and start acting.
9. It is necessary to build a kind of vacuum out of snow and a car and build a fire in the center. Going for firewood into the forest is impractical, so burn tires. One tire burns for about an hour. When they run out, burn everything that burns.
10. Do not forget to periodically move, squat. Staying at rest for a long time is not recommended.
11. Wrap yourself tightly in clothes, cloth, scarves, whatever you have. But do not overtighten the legs and other limbs.
12. Left in the winter on the street almost undressed and unprepared for this situation.
13. Don't stop moving. The best option is to run lightly in the direction of help. Don't run too fast, as this will tire you out quickly and will only hasten possible frostbite. Try to cover your face with clothes.
14. If you have a first aid kit, take an aspirin. Aspirin thins the blood and improves circulation
15. Do not drink alcoholic beverages. Under normal conditions, the human body constricts blood vessels in the cold to conserve heat. Alcohol expands them and reduces sensitivity. You will not realize that you have received frostbite, but you will freeze faster.
16. Do not smoke. Nicotine can cause vasospasm, which will accelerate frostbite.
17. Most importantly, don't panic and don't get discouraged. The mood of a person is very important in critical unpredictable situations.

Low temperature for an animal means a small amount of food and increased energy consumption. In addition, cold can freeze solutions of salts and proteins in cells and destroy cell membranes. Many living organisms are forced to adapt both to seasonal frosts and to constant cold. We tell you what helps animals survive in extreme temperatures.

Size matters

Heat production in mammals and birds depends on body volume. In other words, larger animals live in polar latitudes, and smaller ones in warm climates. This rule was formulated by the German biologist Carl Bergman. For example, a polar bear that inhabits the northern latitudes is much larger than a spectacled bear that lives in the mountain forests of South America. In many cases, Bergman's rule was confirmed, but science knows many exceptions - after all, in addition to the ambient temperature, other factors influence the size of the animal.

To reduce heat transfer, the surface area of ​​the body must be small. To reduce heat transfer, animals shrink and curl up into a ball. American biologist Joel Allen showed that short protruding body parts such as legs, tails, and ears reduce body surface and conserve heat. The Arctic fox is more stocky than the Saharan fox, with its long legs and huge ears.

Winter sleep

With the onset of the cold season, many large mammals hibernate. In this state, the animal slows down breathing and heartbeat, slows down nervous activity and lowers body temperature. During winter sleep, the body temperature of a brown bear drops by 6°C, but is easily and quickly restored upon awakening, while in earth squirrels, the body temperature during hibernation can drop to -2°C. Hibernation can last a very long time: for example, the American black bear is able to sleep for about 100 days in a row without a lunch break.

Hibernation is often confused with suspended animation. An organism in hibernation is able to revive for a while in order to change shelter, relieve itself or find food. Anabiosis is almost complete stupor. The hardiest creatures on Earth, tardigrades, thanks to an extreme form of suspended animation (cryptobiosis), are able to survive in outer space. In this state, the metabolic rate of tardigrades decreases by 100 times. Japanese microbiologists have managed to bring back to life tardigrades that had been frozen for 30 years.

natural antifreeze

Glycerin and its esters, fats are natural antifreeze. Thanks to glycerin and betaine, the caterpillar of the moth Gynaephora groenlandica, which lives in Greenland and Canada, tolerates temperatures down to -70 ° C. And the liver of the Siberian salamander synthesizes an amount of glycerol equal to 37% of its body weight.

With the onset of cold weather, animals begin to eat more high-calorie foods. In the warm season, squirrels eat more than a hundred types of feed, while in winter they feed mainly on coniferous seeds rich in fats. Deer eat lichens in winter, which contain proteins, fats and carbohydrates in large quantities. Thus, they accumulate large reserves of nutrients in the form of brown fat. This type of adipose tissue has an increased oxidative capacity, due to which the body produces and stores more heat. Brown fat is of particular importance for aquatic mammals living at low temperatures. The thickness of the layer of adipose tissue under the whale's skin can vary from three to thirty centimeters.

Some amphibians, as well as turtles, fish and snakes, are saved from the cold by antifreeze proteins. These compounds prevent the formation of ice crystals in the cells of the animal and thus allow it not to freeze to death. Antifreeze proteins lower the freezing point of water by “sticking” to ice crystals and disrupting their normal structure.

However, tissue freezing does not always mean the death of the animal. Tree frog Rana sylvatica hibernates under fallen leaves. All the water in her body turns into ice and thaws only in the spring. For 2-3 months, her body temperature remains at -6°C, she stops breathing, and her heart does not beat. It turns out that in this amphibian, before hibernation, the liver increases one and a half times and begins to produce three times more glycogen (“animal starch”) than in the warm season. During the freezing period, the liver converts glycogen into glucose, which allows cells to maintain their structure.

Fur coat

The main protection of mammals in cold weather is wool. The guard hairs create an air gap that retains heat. Many species of animals develop an undercoat during the cold season - short and thin hairs that create an additional layer of air. Species such as reindeer and polar bear have hollow fur.

Stock up for the future

For some birds and animals, the long winter forces them to make substantial food supplies. Nutcracker makes tens of thousands of bookmarks of nuts, 10-20 pieces each, in secluded places and remembers them for several months. Chipmunks and bears feed on these stocks.

asylum

In winter, animals dig deeper burrows. Some insulate shelters and nests with fluff and dry leaves and close the entrance to them. Black grouse, hazel grouse, capercaillie and partridge escape the cold in deep snow. In the evening, a flock of trees falls like stones into a snowdrift and hides in it from the wind and frost. In severe frosts, a flock can spend the whole day in the snow. The main danger is crust, an ice crust that forms on the snow. Birds hiding in a snowdrift may not have enough strength to break through a layer of ice and get out.

friendly warmth

Many people think that bees hibernate in winter, like butterflies, flies or beetles. However, it is not. Bees gather in a dense ball and warm each other with warmth. Birds that stay for the winter in cold latitudes also come: they cling to each other.

In Europe alone (including the European part of Russia), the number of frostbitten and dead from the cold in this anomalous winter is in the hundreds. Roads are covered with snow even in the southern regions. But, according to weather forecasts, frosts are not even going to leave. How to survive if you suddenly got trapped in the snow on the track? How not to frostbite and not to freeze? Experts give advice to readers of Pravda.Ru.

There are already quite a lot of recommendations on how to prevent frost from ruining yourself on the Internet. Therefore, we decided to turn not to the deposits of network information, but to professionals who have gone through fire, water, and, of course, frost more than once. Here is what he advises readers of Pravda.Ru traveler, organizer of the solo ski expedition "Arctic Circle" Stepan Savin :

"Let's remember the story: many northern peoples smeared their faces with a thick layer of fat, which protected their skin from frostbite. Today, the need to smear with fat, of course, has disappeared, medical cosmetics are now at their best. A great way to prevent the skin from disappearing in the cold is to protect it from the cold with the help of a mechanical barrier, that is, a cream that is called "barrier" cream. Such products contain special components, serine or NMF, which maintain a sufficient level of natural moisture and protect the skin from frost. But do not go outside earlier than after 20 minutes after applying the cream.

In difficult situations in the cold (let's say your car broke down on the track), you should never lose heart. A person who knows how to maintain good spirits will always find a way out of any misfortune. I remember such a case. On different sections of one of the deserted Siberian highways, in a thirty-degree frost, two cars stalled almost at the same time. The driver of one of them lay down in the cab, fell asleep and after a couple of hours froze to death. The second got out of the car, drained some fuel, lit a fire, kept moving all the time. Even, according to his stories, he sang songs in his voice. And waited for help. This is what cheerfulness means.

In severe frosts, wear loose layered clothing and double mittens. But in no case gloves, where each finger is separate, it is dangerous. That is, instead of one thick sweater, it is better to put on several sweaters, which can be thinner. It is very good to use the so-called "membrane clothing" and wear synthetic thermal underwear under it. Why synthetic?

The thing is that cotton underwear under the membrane absorbs moisture and remains damp, which is very dangerous. Most often, it is not the frost itself that brings trouble, but sweat, which, when cooled, causes inconvenience. Under fur coats or down jackets in the cold, wear clothes made from natural fabrics. Hang your underwear on the radiator for 10 minutes before putting it on to warm it up.

If you are going to spend a sufficiently long time in the cold, for example, for work, it is very important, so to speak, to properly "refuel" with food. The most "winter meat" is actually pork, and it is with it that you need to start your working day in the cold. Proteins, which are rich in pork, increase metabolism by about 40 percent and thus warm the body.

It is not forbidden to season pork with spices, which also stimulate the metabolism. You can also season a portion of meat with horseradish. It has antibacterial properties, as it contains phytoncides, and also releases volatile substances - plant antibiotics that kill harmful microbes. Of course, in other seasons such a "diet" is unacceptable, but for those people who work or just do something for a long time in the cold, it is desirable.

“I often see young people who don’t wear a hat even in the cold. A kind of youthful boasting, completely meaningless. Some people get severe headaches in the cold. Sometimes it seems to such people that their jaws are frozen and their head is about to crack in half. frosty migraine. This is a very dangerous disease. If you do not take it seriously, you can "earn" trigeminal neuralgia. Therefore, do not leave the room without a warm hat and do not smoke, because nicotine, like cold, causes vasospasm.

Winter is a difficult time for a car, and what can we say about the harsh winters in the Russian North, where temperatures of minus 40 are common. Here you need to prepare thoroughly for a long journey, otherwise you can pay not only with your health, but also with your life.

The Siberian edition of Amurskaya Pravda shared tips on how to survive on the road in winter, left alone with a broken car, and what to take with you when going on a long journey.

Every year, tragic cases of death on the road are recorded, when people die not in road accidents, but from frost. A car breaks down, a mobile phone dies, and the unlucky driver finds himself on the verge of life and death, left alone on a winter highway. How to effectively prepare for a long road, so as not to be powerless in the face of the elements of winter and cold? Practical advice about this is given by employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and experienced truck drivers.

There is a law on a frosty road: the salvation of a freezing person depends only on him. No one is immune from force majeure, so you need to be prepared for anything. And for everyone who finds himself in a car that has stalled or stuck in the snow, the first thing to do is to call the rescue service number 112. Otherwise, you can only rely on relatives and friends who will start looking for the missing driver. In the cold, the ability to make a fire will save life: the life-giving warmth will help you survive the hours of waiting.

“The most important thing in this situation is to keep your sanity. You need to think clearly, not get confused and be aware of what you are doing. In the most extreme and hopeless case, if you are already completely freezing - yes, you even slept your car! After all, you can buy a car, you can’t buy life, ”says Vitaly Ryabov, a truck driver with many years of experience.

In winter, before a long journey, you need to carefully prepare the car: stock up on fuel to the eyeballs, carefully check the engine and battery, be sure to fill in high-quality antifreeze, and also take care of the thermal insulation of the body and hood, and insulate the seats.

While preparing for the trip, you should carefully study the route, noting cafes and settlements on the route. At the same time, it should be taken into account that at the gas station you may not even be allowed to warm up, because the gas station staff may be prohibited from doing this, they risk money. In case of unforeseen situations, it is better to rely on a cafe and in no case go at random.

“To go, you need to know which way. Sometimes people go in the opposite direction from the settlement. If you don't know where to go, don't go. You can’t navigate offhand: if you look at that star, I’ll get home, ”continues the driver of the heavy truck Vitaly Ryabov.

In case of an emergency, put in your trunk things that you may need in an emergency: paper tape, candles, bedspreads or plastic film for windows, quilts, warm clothes, a sapper shovel, candles, a thermos with hot drinks.

Experienced drivers never leave the garage in winter without first taking with them fur outerwear, as well as gloves, a hat and shoes with fur, and quilted blankets. It will be useful to wear thermal underwear. Be sure to take care of food supplies. Take at least a couple of sandwiches, chocolate, high-calorie nuts with you. Be sure to bring a thermos of hot drinks with you. Check the first aid kit, put in it all the medicines that you may need in an emergency.

Before the trip, you need not only to replenish the account on the phone and charge the batteries, but also not to be lazy and be sure to warn relatives, friends or even neighbors. If you do not get in touch, they will be able to sound the alarm - and help will come to you faster. In the event of an emergency, first of all, call 112 - this is a single emergency call number for dialing from all mobile operators and landlines. Also, users of MTS and MegaFon mobile networks can dial 010, 101, Beeline users - 001 and 101.

If the engine is still stalled, the driver can be saved by a fire near the car. Therefore, on the road in winter, you must definitely take matches, and even better, take an alcohol lamp and candles with you. In extreme cases, you can burn tires. In this case, you must be careful with open fire and do not kindle it in the immediate vicinity of the machine.

“This is elementary - in the glove compartment you should always have a lighter, a couple of boxes of matches. You can slowly burn rags, branches. You can dig up the snow and get the grass. In extreme cases, you can always start burning tires. The car has five wheels, one spare, start with it, - advises an experienced driver Vitaly Ryabov. “In case the lighter didn’t work and there is no spare fuel, you can get fuel from the tank. To do this, you will need a sharp object like a screwdriver and a bottle. You can pierce the tank, collect fuel, splash it on branches or grass and set it on fire. Or just buy a couple of bottles of brazier lighter fluid and carry it with you in the trunk.”

Hot drinks in case of emergency can only help to rub yourself with alcohol, this is only in the case when you are already warm. You can’t drink in the cold, because you can lose control of the situation or fall asleep.

You can insulate the car by pasting the doorways around the perimeter with wide paper tape. The car door seal is not airtight, and duct tape will help eliminate drafts. Curtain windows - heat escapes through the glass most quickly. This can be done with blankets, rags or plastic wrap. As a result, you will find yourself in a car, like a bear in a den.

“You need to turn to others for help: wave your hands, slow down cars that pass by. In extreme cases, you can put the car across the road, then they will stop for sure, ”advises Vitaly Ryabov.

There must be a sapper shovel in the trunk, with which you can dig out a car that has flown off the road, or warm it with snow in anticipation of help. To do this, throw a small snow shaft up to the door threshold, which will allow you to isolate the bottom of the car from cold air.

Good luck on winter roads!