Author’s
note -- I hope that you enjoy learning from this resource! To help me to continue to provide valuable
free content, please consider showing your appreciation by leaving a donation HERE.
Thank you and Happy Trails!
It’s that time of the year. Hunting season is coming up, and the weather
is getting changeable...colder and snows on the way!
What would you do if you and your
companions were confronted by an early surprise snowstorm, you’re all cold and
wet, you’re at least one hours walk, maybe two, from your camp. It is later in the afternoon, dark will be
soon, you don’t have a compass, visibility is dropping and one of you is
starting to stumble, mumble and complain about being tired? That is the question that the Air Force
Survival experts asked, almost fifty years ago, in the “Could You Survive’
column published in the Spokane Daily Chronicle, on October 25, 1977. It’s a good question, what would you do?
Here’s some clues from the authors
and some information to help you make your decision. The authors wrote “...one of your companions
begins to stagger and complains of fatigue”, this is a clear symptom of
hypothermia...it is called the ‘5 umbles’.
The ‘5 umbles’ are an easy to
remember checklist of behavioral and physical warning signs that can be used to
identify the onset of early to moderate stages of hypothermia; the point where
the body’s core temperature drops below 95°F (35°C). Temperatures between 95°F and 90°F (between 35°C and 32°C) is mild hypothermia,
and at this stage, your body is still actively fighting the cold, however
symptoms such as fatigue, shivering and clumsiness may appear.
The
5 Umbles
· Grumbles. When someone uncharacteristically begins to be
irritable, complain, becomes apathetic or has a sudden negative attitude, this
can be a symptom of hypothermia.
· Fumbles. The body responds to a lowering of the core
body temperature by reducing the blood flow to the extremities, to keep the body
core warm. This causes a loss of fine
motor skills, trouble zipping jackets, buckling gear, or holding objects, clumsiness,
and slow reaction times.
· Stumbles.
The lower blood flow to the limbs also leads to a loss of balance,
missteps, stiff muscles, and trouble walking unaided. The stumbles is often an early symptom of
hypothermia, with the victim showing small signs, such as missteps and
appearing off balance.
· Mumbles. Slow, thick, confused or incoherent speech,
along with growing general confusion or sleepiness are a sign of the beginning
of hypothermia.
· Crumbles/Tumbles.
These symptoms are the final sign in the stage toward death by exposure.
The victim could display severe
confusion, paradoxical undressing (taking off clothes while freezing), because
the person is unable to understand the sensation of sudden “warming”, combativeness,
irritability, collapse, unconsciousness, or cardiac failure.
So what do you think you should
do? Choice A, B, C or D? Remember only one gets you all out alive!
What to Do about the Umbles
· Seek shelter.
Look for a dry, sheltered, or area, out of the elements. Find someplace out of the wind and weather. Build a fire if possible.
· Remove/replace wet clothing.
Gently take off wet layers and replace them with dry, warm clothes or
blankets, if any are available.
· Insulate and rewarm.
Cover the victim with wind- and waterproof layers, and place warm (but not
hot) water bottles or heat packs in the armpits and groin.
· Provide fuel.
If they are fully conscious and can swallow, offer warm, sugary drinks –
no vasodilators, such as alcoholic or caffeinated liquids.
· Call for help.
If possible, seek help immediately if body temperature is very low, confusion
is severe, or the person becomes unresponsive.
So did you get the right answer? I hope so.
In any case now you know and if you’re ever in this situation, now you’ll
know what to do.
Don’t forget to come back next week and read another well researched
and informative article on the outdoors.
I hope that you enjoy
learning from this resource! To help me
to continue to provide valuable free content, please consider showing your
appreciation by leaving a donation HERE.
Thank you and Happy Trails!
I
hope that you continue to enjoy The Woodsman’s Journal Online and look for me
on YouTube at BandanaMan Productions for other related videos, HERE. Don’t forget to follow me on both The
Woodsman’s Journal Online, HERE,
and subscribe to BandanaMan Productions on YouTube. If you have questions, as always, feel free
to leave a comment on either site. I
announce new articles on Facebook at Eric Reynolds, on Instagram at
bandanamanaproductions, and on VK at Eric Reynolds, so watch for me.
That
is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!
Sources
Air Force Survival
School, Fairchild AFB; “Could You Survive”, Spokane Daily Chronicle Oct 25,
1977, page 17, https://books.google.com/books?id=ElZOAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA9&dq=%22could+you+survive%22+september+october+november&article_id=6776,2056101&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj6qK-5obiXAxW8z_ACHQKaO5AQ6AF6BAgOEAM#v=onepage&q=%22could%20you%20survive%22%20september%20october%20november&f=false
Mullenix,
Todd; “Let’s Add Humble to the 5 ‘Umbles’ of Hypothermia”, January 23, 2023, [©
2026 NCOAE], https://ncoae.org/blog/lets-add-humble-to-the-5-umbles-of-hypothermia/,
accessed October 17, 2026
.jpg)
