Frostbite & Hypothermia
White
True of False: you lose 80% of your body heat through your head
False. The head makes up 7 - 10% of the body's surface area, and it experiences a similar rate of heat loss as any other exposed skin.
True or False: sometimes the activities of wildlife can cause ice to become thinner in certain areas.
True.
What is the coldest temperature ever recorded in Minnesota?
A. -30 degrees F
B. -40 degrees F
C. -50 degrees F
D. -60 degrees F
D. -60 degrees F Feb. 2, 1996 in St. Louis County. MSP temp that day was -30 degrees. (on Feb 8 of that year, the high temperature in St. Louis County was 48 degrees F, a 108 degree difference!)
Falling through the ice
You and some of your friends decide to play broomball on a lake a few blocks away from where you live. It's been below freezing for a week or so, but none of you notice that a small family of muskrats live on the lake. The muskrats have created "push-ups," or holes in the ice where they can come out. Your friend is doing a victory dance after scoring a goal, and jumps a little too enthusiastically. They crash through the ice and sink down up to their shoulders. What do you and your friends do next?
Points for:
Lie down on the ice to spread out weight
Help your friend stay calm and keep their head out of the water
Call for help
Use broomball stick or long stick/ladder to help pull your friend out
Get your friend inside and into dry clothes
Make a hot beverage and give them a snack to warm them up
On what part of the body is frostbite most likely to occur?
Extremities - toes, fingers, ears, cheeks, nose and chin
Which materials will keep you warm even if wet?
A. Wool
B. Cotton
C. Polyester
D. Oatmeal
A. Wool
C. Polyester
Which is stronger, clear ice or white ice?
Clear ice.
What was Minnesota's heaviest snowfall recorded in a 24 hour period?
A. 14 inches
B. 25 inches
C. 36 inches
D. 52 inches
C. 36 inches (January 7, 1994 at Wolf Ridge in Finland, MN)
Stranded in the cold
Your family is driving to visit relatives who live several hours away. It's about 30 degrees. About halfway there, you see your friend and their parents' Ford Explorer on the side of the road. You pull over to help them. You notice that they have been there for about an hour and their car won't start. They don't have a winter survival kit in their car.
What should you and your family do?
Points for:
Invite them into your car to warm up
Share snacks and water with them
Call for a tow truck if you have a working cell phone
Make sure emergency flashers are on, that other drivers can see you and your vehicle (flares, other lights, brightly colored material to catch attention)
Stay in vehicles as much as possible
How do you treat frostbite?
Rapid rewarming, but do not rub and do not use hot water.
True or False: cotton is a good material for layering
False. Cotton absorbs moisture and takes a long time to dry (Unless the cotton is waxed).
Which of the following can impact the safety of ice?
A. Moving water
B. Snow cover
C. How old the ice is
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
What were the highest wind speeds ever recorded in Minnesota?
A. 50 mph
B. 60 mph
C. 80 mph
D. 120 mph
D. 120 mph (121 mph in Kitson County, MN 2011)
Lost with a dead phone battery
You and your cousin are walking at a park you've never been to before. You take a few wrong turns, and still haven't figured out where you are when it starts getting dark. It's cold enough that your phone batteries died much faster than usual, so you can't use them to call anyone or figure out where you are. You haven't seen any other people for a while. What do you do?
Points for:
You told someone at home which park you were going to. Stay in one place so you are easily found when people come to look for you.
Listen for other people, vehicle noise, etc.
Find a place that is out of the wind but easily seen.
Do light exercise to keep your body warm.
What is the first obvious sign of hypothermia?
Shivering
True or False: All of your layers should fit tightly
False. A fitted base layer can help wick moisture away from your body, but middle and outer lasers should fit loosely to trap warm air around the body.
Ice should be at least how many inches thick before walking on it?
4 inches.
What was the latest date with measurable snowfall in Minnesota?
A. March 30
B. April 15
C. May 12
D. June 4
D. June 4 (1.5 inches in Mizpah, MN in 1935)
Winter storm power outage
A massive winter storm with heavy snow and high winds rolls through southern Minnesota. Lots of trees fell on power lines, leading to power outages across the Twin Cities. Continued heavy snowfall is making it hard to clear roads and restore power. Your furnace stops working. You are at home with your family members. What do you do?
Points for:
Putting on layers/blankets
Eat snacks
Gather in one room and close off rest of house
Move away from any outer walls/windows
At what body temperature does hypothermia set in?
A. 95 degrees F
B. 92 degrees F
C. 90 degrees F
D. 80 degrees F
A. 95 degrees F
What does your outer layer need to be able to do?
Block wind, keep you dry.
When should you assume ice is safe?
Never
What is the Minnesota state record for snow depth?
A. 55 inches
B. 66 inches
C. 77 inches
D. 88 inches
D. 88 inches, February 15-21st in 1969
Rainy race day
Your friend is running a 10k race through a county park. Even though it is a rainy day, around 45° F, you grab an umbrella and put on a couple layers so you can cheer them on. You pick a spot a little past the halfway point. When you see your friend running by in their short sleeves, you notice they seem a bit confused and are shivering. They stop running and sit down in front of you. What do you do?
Points for:
Give them one of your layers and umbrella
Get them out of the rain
Get the attention of a race volunteer or first responder
Share any snacks or warm drinks you have with you
Call for help if you have a cell phone
Ask other spectators for extra layers