Winter-Weather Wise: Practicing Responsible Recreation

In locations with chilly temperatures and winter weather conditions, residents and visitors celebrate the return of outdoor winter sports and recreational activities, such as sledding, skiing, snowboarding, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and skating. The adrenaline rush experienced during some of these activities may inhibit situational awareness, increasing the risk of cold exposure, injury, or death. Implementing a few preventive measures can help ensure a safe and fun-filled season.

Never go alone. Companions can combat loneliness, assist with difficult situations, provide first aid, or seek help in an emergency.

Make a plan. Create and share a schedule containing specific locations, times, and companions. Think through different scenarios and challenges before departure to ensure that a trusted nonparticipant knows how and when to act or seek the assistance of authorities and that all participants know what to do in case of separation, emergency, injury, or other emergent situations.

Check the local weather. Reference local news reports, weather applications, or other tools to prepare adequately for forecasted conditions.

Refrain from walking or standing on risky or untested ice surfaces. When engaging in ice-related activities, such as skating or ice fishing, know how to check if a body of water can thoroughly support the weight of the activity and what to do in case of an accidental breakthrough. Local resources, such as parks and recreation departments, often publish when conditions are safe or the appropriate ice-thickness requirements for activities.

Limit exposure to freezing temperatures. Wet or damp conditions and cold winds can lead to frostbite, hypothermia, and other cold-related injuries. These exposure risks can lead to permanent physical damage, including nerve damage or amputation.

Avoid intoxicating substances. Alcohol or other mood-altering substances can mask the effects of winter-weather exposure, making it difficult to maintain control of equipment or gauge risk, true temperature, or situational awareness.

Wear layers of dry, loose-fitting clothing. Loose-fitting layers help trap body heat in air pockets between the skin and the layers. Also, carry a set of backup clothing so that damp clothing layers can be removed or replaced to mitigate cold-exposure risk, especially in wet or damp conditions. A replacement set of clothing is a must for recreation near water or icy environments in case of a breakthrough. Blankets, warming layers, and other heat sources can help to slowly acclimate someone experiencing signs of hypothermia back to a regular body temperature. Never underestimate the power of clean, dry socks; trench foot is not only a field-based medical condition.

Bring a well-stocked first aid kit. Check supply levels every time, and never assume that a kit has remained unused while in storage. Restock low supplies and check expiration dates. Consider enclosing the kit in a waterproof container.

Properly maintain, repair, and use sporting equipment. Always check equipment functionality before engaging in an activity, checking for elements such as power, tire tread, lights, safety features, and fluid levels. For example, never use gas-powered tools or equipment in enclosed spaces, and remove snow, ice, debris, or other entrapping material around exhaust pipes.

Be situationally aware. Know the environmental risks associated with the activity’s location—for example, the area’s wildlife. Bears, moose, mountain lions, deer, coyotes, wolves, raccoons, and more can pose a safety hazard (lock up food items to avoid attracting animals to recreational areas). Know the area’s transportation routes, which can provide risks and benefits. For instance, when sledding, it is important to consider the location of the hill to determine the trajectory of the sled to avoid any roads, paths, or train tracks; however, knowing the transportation routes can make seeking emergency assistance easier. Research or become familiarized with terrain conditions to avoid pitfalls, trip hazards, low-hanging branches, slippery slopes, uneven paths, weather effects, avalanche likelihood, and other location-based conditions. Lastly, be mindful of all water features to avoid accidental breakthroughs, drowning risks, and other water-based hazards.

Honor your limitations and trust your instincts. In addition to having situational awareness, one must have personal awareness. Understanding personal fitness levels, preparedness, and tolerance can help avoid injury, illness, or death. A gut feeling is worth honoring—if something seems off, it probably is. Do not take unnecessary risks or push personal limits. Questionable judgment, overexertion, grandstanding, and other troublesome behavior put an individual and any participants or bystanders at risk. On the other hand, personal fitness, training, and conditioning can help prepare winter recreationists for their selected activities and better-informed decision-making in an emergency.

Think about fall risks. Icy conditions and uneven terrain lead to greater fall risk; therefore, knowing how to break a fall can help avoid serious injury or impairment. Falling in a remote location and breaking a leg may require an intense rescue operation. If a fall is unavoidable, expand the surface area of impact to avoid focusing extreme force and pressure on a single limb or body part to avoid breaks or sprains; for example, locking up and extending an arm during an ice-skating fall is likely to lead to a break because of the surface area used to absorb the impact.

Stay hydrated. Drinking water during warm-weather activities is often emphasized, but keeping well hydrated during cold-weather activities is also necessary—lack of heat exposure or perspiration is not a reason to disregard hydration needs.

Disclaimer: This article’s recommendations are a starting point and not meant to replace proper and professional training and research. Always seek reputable sources of information and instruction before engaging in any winter-weather recreational activity.