Winter Survival for Tommy...Part Four©

 

 

This is part four of a five part series, you can find part three, HERE – Author’s Note.

 

In most survival situations, according to the “Rule of Threes”, shelter is the next most important thing you need after providing first aid
and calling for help. 

 

Fifth, find or build a permanent shelter, to protect you from the elements and the wind as soon as the conditions and weather permit. 

 

Tip 7: Remember, if you or anyone with you is seriously injured, you do not want to move them anymore than is necessary, so as the FAA notes “staying put – once the threat of the fire is past – is normally your best bet”¹².

 

An excerpt from “Snow Bound”, Driver, October 1980, by the Department of the Air Force, HERE.

You will need to get out of the wind and the weather, and when it comes to permanent shelters, you really have only three options:

 

1.   You can use the inside of the car or the plane’s fuselage if the wreckage is intact and safe.

 

2.   If the wreckage is broken up, but still partially intact, you can modify the remains with materials from the wilderness around you.  Any upright piece of debris could make a windbreak, to stop the wind from blowing into the remains of the wreck, if supplemented with other materials found around the crash site¹³.

 

3.   If the wreck is destroyed or its location is unsafe, you can also use material, such as a door or wing sections, from the wreckage to build or improve on a shelter away from the crash site.

 

An excerpt from “Snow Bound”, Driver, October 1980, by the Department of the Air Force.

The most readily available shelter, obviously, is the fuselage of the plane, or interior of the car.  

 

If you are sheltering in a functional vehicle, DON’T run the heater unless it is safe to do so.  Many people, who are stuck in a snow-
bound vehicle die from carbon monoxide poisoning from the engine exhausts.  Before you start the engine, clear the exhaust pipes, and open an upwind window (the side opposite from the direction the wind is blowing) a little bit to allow for ventilation.

 

“Surviving the Winter Emergency”, Flying Safety, November 1985, page 3, HERE.

If you are sheltering inside a non-functioning vehicle, or partially
destroyed vehicle, the only source of heat will be your body heat. 

 

You will have to completely close-up the wreck, by plugging broken windows, cracks, or doors with anything that stops the wind.  Then curtain off any areas that you aren’t using and insulate the walls and especially the floors of your shelter with dry pine boughs or leaves, newspapers, maps, cardboard, fabric seat stuffing, carpeting, plastic interior panels, dry clothing, floorboards, or virtually anything that is dry and nonmetallic, and have everyone huddle close together for warmth. 

 

Two important considerations to keep in mind are, first the temperature will drop considerably after nightfall, usually between 10 - 20^o F (5 - 10^o C) if the sky is clear, and second metal, particularly aluminum, conducts heat very rapidly.  If the temperature is below 10^o F (-12^o C), the metal of the car or plane will act as a cold sink and draw the heat from your body.

 

Tip 8: Remember the smaller the shelter, the less body heat that is required to raise the temperature inside.

 

If you have a candle, it can be burned inside the car, the plane’s fuselage, or your shelter, especially after nightfall, and it will provide
some important benefits.

 

“Surviving the Winter Emergency”, Flying Safety, November 1985, page 3.

If it is necessary to build a permanent shelter away from the wreckage, you can build a roof over the temporary shelter you made earlier or make a lean-to, snow-trench, or snow-cave. 

 

Snow is a very good insulator, and your body heat alone will make the inside of the shelter warmer than the outside.  Remember, the
smaller the area inside of your shelter, the easier it will be to warm it up with just your body heat. 

 

For more on shelter building read “The Top Ten Wilderness Survival Skills...Number Five©”, HERE.

 

So, now that your need for shelter has been satisfied it is time to build a fire and get water to drink.  Don’t forget to come back next week and read “Winter Survival for Tommy...Part Five©”, where we will talk about building fires, getting water and making signals to attract attention.

 

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!

 

 

Notes

 

¹² “Airman Survival in the Big Snow”, by Federal Aviation Administration

 

¹³ Stay in sight of the wreck, remember don’t go far from the wreck, particularly if the weather is bad, you might not be able to find your way back to it.  If you must leave sight of the wreck, leave trail signs so you can find your way back or rescuers can find you.

 

 

Sources

 

Air Safety Institute, AOPA; “Survive: Beyond the Forced Landing”, [Frederick, Maryland], http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=57&ved=0ahUKEwjjpoab-eTYAhWMp5QKHYYIA0o4MhAWCEswBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aopa.org%2F-%2Fmedia%2Ffiles%2Faopa%2Fhome%2Fpilot%2520resources%2Fasi%2Fsafety%2520advisors%2Fsa31.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0MXBFxEgfsS5ow6y80vbbv, accessed September 1, 2021

 

Airscoop; “Winter Survival”, Approach, Jan 1974, Volume 19, Issue 7, page 12 – 14, https://books.google.com/books?id=CJlUaA0_rtMC&pg=PP14&dq=snow+survival&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwimj8jA-Lb8AhU0MVkFHY-YBG8Q6AF6BAgHEAI#v=onepage&q=snow%20survival&f=false, accessed January 10, 2023

 

American Council on Exercise; “Fit Facts: Exercising in the Cold”, [©American Council on Exercise], https://acewebcontent.azureedge.net/assets/education-resources/lifestyle/fitfacts/pdfs/fitfacts/itemid_24.pdf, accessed January 12, 2023

 

Anderson, Ken; “How to Survive in the Desert” Popular Mechanics May 1971, page 108-111, https://books.google.com/books?id=htcDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA109&dq=Survival+uses+for+car+parts&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjiuquWmen8AhVQElkFHYzdBiQ4ChDoAXoECAQQAg#v=onepage&q=Survival%20uses%20for%20car%20parts&f=false, accessed January 27, 2023

 

Behar, Michael; “The Search for Steve Fossett: One tough job for the U.S. Civil Air Patrol”, Air & Space Magazine, March 2008, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/the-search-for-steve-fossett-24479611/, accessed January 26, 2023

 

Black, Marina; and Jonescu, Kaitlyn; “How to Survive a Plane Crash in the Arctic”, May 20, 2014, [© 2023 Prezi Inc], https://prezi.com/ceo1kdavlin0/how-to-survive-a-plane-crash-in-the-arctic/, accessed January 12, 2023

 

Calvert, John H., Jr. Colonel; “Frostbite”, Flying Safety, October 1992, Publication 127-2, Vol. 48, No. 10, [United States Airforce, 1992], pages 14 - 15, https://books.google.com/books?id=W2PU4Rad3JMC&pg=RA21-PA26&dq=survival+pamphlet&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwim-sLv-cT8AhWMKFkFHf9FA184PBDoAXoECAkQAg#v=onepage&q=survival%20pamphlet&f=false, accessed January 13, 2023

 

Coast Guard, Department of Transportation, A Pocket Guide to Cold Water Survival, CG 473, September 1975, https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5QafxNJBmiIml6O4jiudRpr2rz8pLfodQOiq-4gZNh4xa5uIN_rq05C2yAes1AYw67Ziq189QaQaFDHBHE0SJivfCxjMW1DReANLjFqw1qX6jEl2mz1HPKXj4BRQJv8zAOcO6oDE70Dcv__VE2uPh4tEqLSzMxDRiWOv3p6ssyQjE2bevJMX7-Ol2KDtIPQVcVuaJudJMLaOOuSUVs8qYS1Nlaxnm47GVOCXLR79KzL6nV3R0zZG4DxRt9hoYrIRGugXm6RVfbU2gxeix7JLKbxpvQsNB9w, accessed May 1, 2022

 

Combat Crew Training Wing; “Obtaining Water”, Flying Safety, October 1992, Publication 127-2, Vol. 48, No. 10, [United States Airforce, 1992], pages 26, https://books.google.com/books?id=W2PU4Rad3JMC&pg=RA21-PA26&dq=survival+pamphlet&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwim-sLv-cT8AhWMKFkFHf9FA184PBDoAXoECAkQAg#v=onepage&q=survival%20pamphlet&f=false, accessed January 13, 2023

 

Defense Mapping Agency; Sailing Directions (Planning Guide) for the Arctic Ocean, First Edition, [Defense Mapping Agency Hydrographic/Topographic Agency, 1983], page 286 - 293, https://books.google.com/books?id=dpUn0tHp7VMC&pg=PA291&dq=winter+survival+melting+snow+for+water&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjVjZ2T86n8AhUEp3IEHcZyAvY4KBDoAXoECAUQAg#v=onepage&q=winter%20survival%20melting%20snow%20for%20water&f=false, accessed January 10, 2023

 

Department of the Air Force; “Snow Bound”, Driver, October 1980, Volume 15, Issue 5, page 18 to 21, https://books.google.com/books?id=gfIKIZVSao8C&pg=PA20&dq=winter+survival+car+improvised&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwisus3HiuP8AhXjEFkFHSwLDwkQ6AF6BAgLEAI#v=onepage&q=winter%20survival%20car%20improvised&f=false, accessed January 25, 2023

 

Department Of the Air Force, [Air Training Command, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., August 15, 1969], page 2-7 to 2-10

 

Federal Aviation Administration; “Improvising for Survival”, FAA General Aviation News, January-February 1987, Volume 26, Number 1, page 11-12, https://books.google.com/books?id=QFUNlHfp4ccC&pg=PA11&dq=aircraft+parts+used+for+survival&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj14s320df8AhWrKFkFHQA9CGwQ6AF6BAgDEAI#v=onepage&q=aircraft%20parts%20used%20for%20survival&f=false, accessed January 23, 2023

 

Federal Aviation Administration; “At Home in The Snow”, FAA General Aviation News, November-December, 1983,Volume 22, Issue 6, page 11 – 12, https://books.google.com/books?id=BWX3xkpPHFUC&pg=PA11&dq=crashed+plane+winter&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjHn4jlr8D8AhXMGVkFHYOiCYcQ6AF6BAgIEAI#v=onepage&q=crashed%20plane%20winter&f=false, accessed January 13, 2023

 

Federal Aviation Administration; “Airman Survival in the Big Snow”, FAA Aviation News, March/April 1989, Volume 28, Number 2, page 5 – 6, https://books.google.com/books?id=bIgsnbWISb8C&pg=RA1-PA5&dq=survive+blanket&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjpjM7T0eH8AhXlEVkFHc7wDLE4ChDoAXoECA0QAg#v=onepage&q=survive%20blanket&f=false, accessed January 24, 2023

 

Federal Aviation Administration; Basic Survival Skills for Aviation, [FAA, Oklahoma City, OK], page 44-51, https://www.faa.gov/pilots/training/airman_education/media/CAMISurvivalManual.pdf, accessed January 12, 2023

 

Federal Aviation Administration; “Post Crash Survival”, FAA General Aviation News , November-December, 1979,Volume 22, Issue 6, page 8 – 10, https://books.google.com/books?id=Y0YPi63uDIcC&pg=RA5-PA8&dq=survival+snow&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiu8IfVu7n8AhW8EVkFHfW2BbY4MhDoAXoECAcQAg#v=onepage&q=survival%20snow&f=false, Accessed January 10, 2023

 

Gray, Robert; “Staying Alive in a Montana Wilderness”, Scouting, October 1984, page 33 and 76, https://books.google.com/books?id=qD06AQAAIAAJ&pg=RA6-PA75&dq=I+am+bringing+grandma+scouting&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj_i8HskOP8AhWGjIkEHbaMDLsQ6AF6BAgDEAI#v=onepage&q=I%20am%20bringing%20grandma%20scouting&f=false, accessed January 25, 2023

 

Hedblom, Captain Earland E. MC, USN; Polar Manual, Fourth Edition, [National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 1965], p. 37, https://ia800305.us.archive.org/33/items/PolarManual4thEd1965/Polar%20Manual%204th%20ed%20%281965%29.pdf, accessed 12/07/2019

 

Miller, Alyssa J.; “Survival Mode Training For The Unthinkable”, April 5, 2012, [©2023 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association], https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2012/april/pilot/survival-mode, accessed January 27, 2023

 

Mullen, John, SSGT; “Surviving the Winter Emergency”, Flying Safety, United States Air Force, November 1985, Volume 41, Number 11, page 2-7, https://books.google.com/books?id=h9qH2OtBlcoC&pg=RA8-PA5&dq=winter+survival+car+improvised&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwisus3HiuP8AhXjEFkFHSwLDwkQ6AF6BAgGEAI#v=onepage&q=winter%20survival%20car%20improvised&f=false, accessed January 27, 2023

 

Nelson, Morlan W.; “Cold Weather Survival”, Popular Science, November 1971, pages 123-126, https://books.google.com/books?id=PQEAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA123&dq=snow+survival&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwimj8jA-Lb8AhU0MVkFHY-YBG8Q6AF6BAgGEAI#v=onepage&q=snow%20survival&f=false, accessed January 12, 2023

 

Pinkerton, Paul; “Surviving A Plane Crash Pt3 – Using aircraft parts in survival”, December 16, 2016, [© 2023 Outdoor Revival], https://www.outdoorrevival.com/instant-articles/surviving-plane-crash-pt3-using-aircraft-parts-survival.html, accessed January 12, 2023

 

Schul, Dorothy; “Trapped in Hell’s Canyon”, Flying Safety, October 1992, Publication 127-2, Vol. 48, No. 10, [United States Airforce, 1992], pages 2 - 6, https://books.google.com/books?id=W2PU4Rad3JMC&pg=RA21-PA26&dq=survival+pamphlet&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwim-sLv-cT8AhWMKFkFHf9FA184PBDoAXoECAkQAg#v=onepage&q=survival%20pamphlet&f=false, accessed January 13, 2023

 

Stewart,Creek; “Survive With Your Cellphone”, [© 2023 Outside Interactive, Inc], https://www.backpacker.com/survival/survive-with-your-cellphone/, accessed January 25, 2023

 

The Air Ministry, Arctic Survival PAM (Air) 226, 1953, https://ia801909.us.archive.org/2/items/ArcticSurvival/Arctic%20Survival%20and%20Jungle%20Survival%20combined.pdf, accessed January 12, 2023

 

United States Navy, Survival Training Guide, NAVAER 00-8OT-56, [Washington D.C., November 1955], https://books.google.com/books?id=yUBS6vKvubQC&pg=PP1&dq=%22survival+training+guide%22+1955&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwihzJTf6vz8AhXKKlkFHfinBNIQ6AF6BAgKEAI#v=onepage&q=%22survival%20training%20guide%22%201955&f=false, Accessed February 4, 2023

 

United States Marine Corps; Winter Survival Course Handbook, 2002, [Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, CA, 2002], https://ia802602.us.archive.org/22/items/milmanual-us-marine-corps---mwtc-winter-survival-course-handbook/us_marine_corps_-_mwtc_winter_survival_course_handbook.pdf, accessed January 9, 2023

 

Way.com; “6.5 Million Cars Are Catching Fire – Is Yours One of Them?”, [© 2023 WAY.COM], https://www.way.com/blog/millions-of-cars-are-catching-fire-is-yours-one-of-them/#:~:text=How%20often%20do%20cars%20catch,according%20to%20the%20NFPA's%20statistics, accessed January 9, 2023