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5.0: Further Reading

Beaufort House Association: Snow construction handbook; available via World Wide Web at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Agora/2416/wm5-6-0.html
Belenky, G.: 1997: Sleep, sleep deprivation, and human performance in continuous operations; paper presented at 19th annual Joint Services Conference on Professional Ethics; available via World Wide Web at: http://www.usafa.mil/jscope/Belenky97.htm.
Benner, G.A., Church, R.E. and Feild, L.: 1995: Emergency medical procedures for the outdoors; Menasha Ridge Press, Birmingham, Alabama.
Canadian Forces Mobile Command: ca. 1985: A Soldier's guide to the cold.
Costill, D.L. and Miller, J.M.: 1980: Nutrition for endurance sport: carbohydrate and fluid balance; International Journal of Sports Medicine, volume 1, pages 2 to 14.
Dunn, J. M.: 1995: Winterwise: a backpacker's guide; Adirondack Mountain Club, Lake George, New York.
U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine: 1992: Sustaining health & performance in the cold: environmental medicine guidance for cold-weather operations; Technical Note No. 92-2, 46 pages.
: 1993: Nutritional guidance for military field operations in temperate and extreme environments; Technical Note No. 93-3, 12 pages.
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command: 1968: Basic cold weather manual; Field Manual No. 31-70; available via World Wide Web at http://155.217.58.58/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/fm/31-70/toc.htm.
: 1971: Northern operations; Field Manual No. 31-71; available via World Wide Web at http://155.217.58.58/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/fm/31-71/toc.htm.
: 1974: Soldier's handbook for individual operations & survival in cold weather areas; Training Circular No. 21-3.
: 1988a: First aid for soldiers; Field Manual No. 21-11; available via World Wide Web at http://155.217.58.58/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/fm/21-11/fm2111.htm.
: 1988b: Field hygiene and sanitation; Field Manual No. 21-10; available via World Wide Web at http://155.217.58.58/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/fm/21-10/fm2110.htm .
: 1991: Soldier performance in continuous operations; Field Manual No.22-9; available via World Wide Web at http://155.217.58.58/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/fm/22-9/toc.htm..
Wilson, R.: 1974: Acute high-altitude illness in mountaineers and problems of rescue; Canadian Alpine Journal, volume 57, pages 54 to 58.

Citation Note:

This publication should be cited as:

Beaufort House Association: 1998: A Witch's guide to staying healthy in the snow; available via World Wide Web at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Agora/2416/wm21-6-0.html

Appendices

Appendix A-1: Wind Chill Chart (metric units)

 


          ACTUAL TEMPERATURE (oC)    
          10   4  -1   -7  -12  -18  -23  -29  -34  -40  -46  -51    
WINDSPEED (Km/H)    
          EQUIVALENT CHILL TEMPERATURE (oC)    
CALM      10   4  -1   -7  -12  -18  -23  -29  -34  -40  -46  -51    
8          9   3  -3   -9  -14  -21  -26  -32  -38  -44  -49  -56    
16         4  -2  -9  -16  -23  -29  -36  -43  -50  -57  -64  -71    
24         2  -6 -13  -21  -28  -36  -43  -50  -58  -65  -73  -80    
32         0  -8 -16  -23  -32  -39  -47  -55  -63  -71  -79  -87    
40        -1  -9 -18  -26  -34  -43  -51  -59  -67  -76  -83  -92    
48        -2 -11 -19  -28  -36  -44  -53  -62  -70  -78  -87  -96    
56        -3 -12 -20  -29  -37  -46  -55  -63  -72  -81  -89  -98    
64        -3 -12 -21  -30  -38  -47  -56  -65  -74  -83  -91 -100    
(WIND SPEEDS GREATER THAN 64 Km/H HAVE LITTLE ADDITIONAL EFFECT)

Appendix A-2: Wind Chill Chart (imperial units)

 


          ACTUAL TEMPERATURE (oF)                     
          50  40  30   20   10    0  -10  -20  -30  -40  -50  -60    
WINDSPEED (MPH)    
          EQUIVALENT CHILL TEMPERATURE (oF)                          
CALM      50  40  30   20   10    0  -10  -20  -30  -40  -50  -60    
5         48  37  27   16    6   -5  -15  -26  -36  -47  -57  -68    
10        40  28  16    3   -9  -21  -33  -46  -58  -70  -83  -95    
15        36  22   9   -5  -18  -32  -45  -58  -72  -85  -99 -112    
20        32  18   4  -10  -25  -39  -53  -67  -82  -96 -110 -124    
25        30  15   0  -15  -29  -44  -59  -74  -89 -104 -118 -133    
30        28  13  -2  -18  -33  -48  -63  -79  -94 -109 -125 -140    
35        27  11  -4  -20  -35  -51  -67  -82  -98 -113 -129 -145    
40        26  10  -6  -22  -37  -53  -69  -85 -101 -117 -132 -148    
(WIND SPEEDS GREATER THAN 40 MPH HAVE LITTLE ADDITIONAL EFFECT)

Appendix B: Cold-Weather Ritual Guidelines

Note: These guidelines are generalised. Leaders of covens with extensive extreme cold- weather experience and specialised equipment may opt to use less conservative guidelines. People with prior history of cold-weather injury should take greater precautions.

Table B-1: Guidelines for Sedentary Activities

Examples: Fire guard, pathworking, meditations, eating, resting, sleeping, journal- keeping

Little Danger: equivalent chill temperature above -30 C (-22 F): Full head cover. Do not wear facial make-up or ritual masks below -12 C (10 F). Wear mukluks below -18 C (0 F). Shorten time outside / time inside cycles. Provide warming facilities.
Increased Danger: equivalent chill temperature between -30 C (-22 F) and -57 C (-70 F): Consider postponing ritual until weather improves. Use 15 to 20 minute work cycles for essential tasks only. Work in groups of no less than 2 people. No exposed skin.
Great Danger: equivalent chill temperature below -57 C (-70 F): Cancel outdoor activities

Table B-2: Guidelines for Low-Intensity Activities

Examples: Walking, slow dancing, casting Circle, cooking or serving meals.

Little Danger: equivalent chill temperature above -30 C (-22 F): Increase surveillance. Cover exposed flesh when possible. Mittens with liners. Do not use facial make-up or ritual masks below -12 C (10 F). Full head cover below -18 C (0 F). Keep skin dry - especially around nose and mouth.
Increased Danger: equivalent chill temperature between -30 C (-22 F) and -57 C (-70 F): Restrict non-essential activities. Use 30 to 40-minute work cycles with frequent health and safety surveillance for essential tasks.
Great Danger: equivalent chill temperature below -57 C (-70 F): Cancel outdoor activities

Table B-3: Guidelines for High-Intensity Activities

Examples: Digging hole for Maypole in frozen ground, building structures out of snow blocks or shovelled snow, clearing pathways or ritual grounds, running, dancing, making or breaking camp.

Little Danger: equivalent chill temperature above -30 C (-22 F): Increase health and safety surveillance by coven leaders. Gloves optional - mandatory below -18 C (0 F). Increased hydration.
Increased Danger: equivalent chill temperature between -30 C (-22 F) and -57 C (-70 F): Layer ski-wear or equivalent. Mittens with liners. No facial make-up or ritual masks. Exposed skin covered and kept dry. Rest in warm, sheltered area. Mukluks below -18 C (0 F)
Great Danger: equivalent chill temperature below -57 C (-70 F): Postpone non-essential outdoor rites or excursions. Essential tasks only with less than 15 minute exposure. Work groups of no less than 2. Cover all exposed skin.

Appendix C:. Individual Cold-Weather Survival Kit

Waterproof matches and fire starter (e.g. candle, magnesium match)
Signalling devices (e.g. mirror and whistle)
Knife (jack-knife or Swiss Army knife is ideal)
Pressure bandage
Cold-climate lip balm ("Chapstick")
Sunglasses
Compass
Water container (metal for use over fire)
Small amount of concentrated food (e.g. trail mix)
Foil survival blanket (one commercial brand is the Space Blanket)
Flameless, waterless chemical heater (e.g. "Pocket Rocket" or "Husky Hand-Warmer")

Appendix D: Common Nutrition-Related Medical Complaints

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is the excessive excretion of watery stools (instead of formed or soft stool) with resulting decrease in absorption of water and nutrients.

Causes of diarrhoea include:

Poor personal hygiene (transmission of bacteria by unwashed hands, utensils, etc.)
Food poisoning
Dysentery
Emotional stress
Allergies
Excessive drinking of alcohol
Intestinal virus

Symptoms:

Frequent loose and watery stools
Stomach cramping
Blood streaks in or on stools
Tiredness (due to loss of potassium)
Thirst (due to fluid loss)

Treatment:

Treatment is mainly concerned with prevention or correction of salt and water depletion. The Canadian Medical Association suggests the following:

Consume a liquid diet for a day or so. Suggestions: tea, clear broth or soup, glucose- electrolyte type sport drink, beverage base.
Avoid solid foods, but consume large volumes of fluid.
If diarrhoea persists longer than a day or two, or if urine decreases in frequency and amount, seek medical attention because severe dehydration may occur.
If bloody or black stools occur, or if severe or prolonged stomach cramping occurs, seek prompt medical attention.

Dehydration

Dehydration is the net result of inadequate fluid replacement in the face of normal or accelerated fluid loss. It can happen at any temperature, whether physical activity is involved or not.

Causes of dehydration in winter are usually sustained physical exertion while wearing heavy winter clothing, combined with not replacing lost fluids. Dehydration could also be caused by illnesses involving diarrhoea or vomiting.

Symptoms of dehydration depend on the percent body weight lost due to dehydration. Fluid loss resulting in as low as 2% loss of body weight can compromise physical performance. A 3-5% loss in body weight leads to a diminished work capacity while a 10-15% loss results in severe disability and even death.

The following chart summarises the symptoms of dehydration at different percentages of body water loss (listed as percent of body weight loss).

Table 14: Symptoms of dehydration as percent of body weight loss

1 - 5%: Thirst; vague discomfort; economy of movement; appetite suppression; flushed skin; impatience; sleepiness; increased pulse rate.
6 - 10%: Dizziness; headache; difficulty breathing; tingling in limbs; absence of salivation; bluish tinge to skin; indistinct speech; inability to walk.
11 - 20%: Delirium; muscle spasms; swollen tongue; inability to swallow; deafness; dim vision; numb, shrivelled skin; painful urination; kidney dysfunction.

Treatment and Prevention:

Treatment varies depending on the degree of dehydration. For the least severe cases, simply drinking enough fluids (preferably water) to replace lost fluids, getting plenty of rest, and getting out of the sun should help solve the problem.

For the more severe cases of dehydration (symptoms in the 6-10% range and higher), it should be treated as an emergency by seeking prompt professional medical attention, including intravenous fluid replacement.

The easiest way to prevent dehydration is to drink adequate water prior to working outdoors in heavy clothing. For example, drinking 13 to 20 ounces of water (preferably warm) beforehand will delay dehydration.

While working, up to 2 litres (2 quarts) of fluid may be needed per hour to help prevent dehydration. This can be accomplished best by drinking about 250 ml (1 cup) of fluid every 10 to 15 minutes. There are instances where this is not enough fluid to replace sweat losses, but it is the most that can be emptied from the stomach in an hour (more plain water can be absorbed per hour than flavoured drinks).

Therefore, even when the maximum amount of fluid is drunk, in some conditions it is necessary to still watch for signs of dehydration because it will be impossible to maintain adequate hydration. Work-rest cycles help fluid absorption keep pace with fluid loss.

Constipation

Constipation is a symptom, not a disease. It is characterized by retention of feces in the colon beyond the normal emptying time.

Causes of constipation include:

Dehydration
Fibre-deficient diets
Rectal diseases
Diseases of the colon
Lack of exercise (decreases intestinal muscle tone)
Abrupt living habit changes
Drugs (e.g., analgesics, antacids)
Prolonged use of laxatives

Symptoms:

Constipation manifests as excessive straining, pain, and incomplete bowel movements.

Treatment and Prevention:

Reduce the risk of constipation by increasing fluid intake, increasing the intake of dietary fibre, and exercise. If constipation persists, contact a nurse or physician.

edited by: Brigantia Stone; document coversion to HTML by Wobbly Raven Webworks
updated: October 15, 1998; minor corrections November 12, 1998
document: WM216PT5
GWI: WM 21-6-0/5

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