Winter outdoor emergencies: cold water, getting lost in snow, whiteouts, and staying warm until rescue¶

Winter outdoors is beautiful and unforgiving. A fall through lake ice, a sudden whiteout on a ridge, a sledding crash on an icy slope or a wrong turn at dusk can become life threatening within an hour, because cold takes away strength, judgment and heat all at once. Most people who survive winter emergencies do three things well: they stop and think before they act, they protect themselves from cold and wind, and they make it easy for rescuers to find them.

This guide covers cold water immersion, getting lost in snow, hiking in a whiteout, sledding and skiing accidents, building a shelter and signaling, staying warm until rescue arrives, and the preparation that makes all of this easier. It builds on ubugaragwa ubushuhe n'ubukonje, kugwa mu barafu kandi lost while hiking or camping.

Ivyo ubikore ubu¶

1. Stop moving if you are lost, disoriented or in a whiteout. Do not keep walking in the hope of finding the way. Sit on your pack or an insulating layer, out of the wind.
2. Hamagara inomero y’ivyihutirwa yo mu karere kawe (911 muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika na Canada, 112 mu Bumwe bw’Uburaya bwose, 999 mu Bwongereza) nimba ufise ikimenyetso, canke wohereze ubutumwa ukoresheje intumwa y’inyenyeri canke ikimenyetso c’umuntu ku giti ciwe. Ubutumwa bwo kuri telefone rimwe na rimwe buraca iyo amatelefone y’ijwi ataca. Raba inomero z'ivyihutirwa ku bindi bihugu.
3. Shirako igipande cose cyumye ufise, harimwo n’inkofero, amaganzu n’igipfukisho co gukingira umuyaga. Va mu muyaga no mu rubura, maze wikingire hasi.
4. If you have fallen into cold water, follow the steps in the cold water section below: control your breathing, keep your head above the surface, and get out and warm as fast as you can.
5. Urye kandi unywe ikintu gishushe kandi gisosa nimba ufise. Umubiri wawe uturira ivyokurya kugira ngo ukore ubushuhe.
6. Make yourself easy to find: stay in one place, use a whistle, put bright items in the open, and keep your phone warm and switched to low power mode.

Cold water immersion¶

Cold water kills in stages, and the first stage is not hypothermia. The sudden shock of cold water causes an involuntary gasp and fast breathing, which can lead to drowning in the first minute. The widely taught "1-10-1" rule from Canadian water safety groups gives a good picture of how events unfold in water around 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) or colder.

Times vary with water temperature, clothing, body size and fitness, so treat them as a guide and not a guarantee. People have survived much longer in cold water, and others have died in less. A lifejacket greatly improves your chances, because it keeps you afloat when your muscles stop working.

If you fall through ice¶

1. Do not panic. Expect the gasp reflex, and control your breathing by staying calm for the first minute.
2. Turn toward the direction you came from, since that ice held you before.
3. Place your forearms on the unbroken ice and kick your legs to bring your body flat to the surface.
4. Kick as if swimming, and drag yourself out onto the ice with your arms, then roll away from the hole. Do not stand up until you are well away from the broken area.
5. Crawl or roll back to shore along the path you came from.
6. Get to shelter and start warming up, even if you feel fine, because cold continues to drain your body heat.

For ice safety, rescue techniques and ice thickness guidance, read kugwa mu barafu. Ice thickness is never certain. Many agencies advise at least 10 centimeters (4 inches) of clear, hard ice for walking, but rivers, springs, currents and snow cover can make ice weak in places, so check with local authorities and avoid ice you do not know.

If you cannot get out¶

Stay still in the HELP position (Heat Escape Lessening Posture) if you have a lifejacket: hold your knees to your chest and your arms tight against your sides. This keeps heat in the core. If you are with others, huddle together. Do not swim long distances, because swimming speeds heat loss. Swim only if a boat, shore or a floating object is close.

Rescuing someone else¶

Do not run onto the ice. Call your local emergency number first. Then, if it is safe, reach with a long object such as a ladder, branch or rope from solid ground, or throw a rope, ring buoy or something that floats. Keep yourself low and spread out on the ice if you must go on it, with something to spread your weight. Many rescuers become victims, so do not put yourself at risk.

After you are out of the water¶

1. Get out of the wind and into shelter, a car, a building or a tent.
2. Remove wet clothing, which takes heat from your body, and replace it with dry layers. If you have no dry clothes, wring out wet items and wrap yourself in a blanket, space blanket or sleeping bag.
3. Wrap the body, head and neck, and insulate from the ground.
4. Give warm, sweet drinks if the person is awake and can swallow. Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
5. Uwo muntu umufate neza. Kwinyiganza nabi birashobora gutuma umuntu akanye cane agira ingorane z’umutima.
6. Hamagara inomero y’ivyihutirwa yo mu karere iwanyu ku muntu wese yabitswe, naho yoba asa n’uwumeze neza. Amazi yo mu mahaha n’ubushuhe bugenda bugabanuka birashobora kugaragara mu nyuma.

Ku ntambwe zose, raba ubushuhe burengeje urugero n'ubukonje. Nimba uwo muntu ataco yishuye kandi adahema neza, tangura CPR maze ukomeze gushika imfashanyo ishitse. Abarwaye ubukonje barashobora gukira inyuma y’igihe kirekire ata n’umutima utera, rero ntuhagarike kare. Raba CPR.

Ivyuma vy'urubura, ATV n'ibinyabiziga biri ku rubarafu¶

Ivyuma bica mu barafu vyoroshe cane kuruta abantu. Nimba uriko uratwara canke utwara imodoka ku biyaga bikonje, nusuzume uburemere bw’urubura be n’ingene rumeze aho hantu, wambare impuzu yo kureremba, utware ibikoresho vyo gutora urubura mw’izosi, kandi wirinde gutwara ibarafu mw’ijoro. Ku bijanye n’ico wokora inyuma y’ugutera imbere, raba . imodoka y'urubura canke ATV yamenetse mu barafu yo mu kiyaga. Ku bijanye n’ubwato n’amazi yuguruye mu rushana, soma . boating capsizing and cold water survival.

Kuzimirira mu rubura¶

Snow hides trails, flattens landmarks and covers footprints, and short winter days leave little time to correct a mistake. Cold and tiredness also reduce clear thinking. The aim is to avoid making things worse.

Koresha uburyo bwa STOP¶

• Stop. Do not take another step. Sit down, drink, eat and breathe.
• Think. Where did you last know your position? How long ago? How much daylight, food, water and clothing do you have? Who knows your plan?
• Observe. Look at the weather, terrain, wind and your battery. Check your map, GPS and phone. Note any shelter nearby.
• Plan. Decide whether to stay or go, and what to do first. If in doubt, stay put.

Stay or go¶

Most search and rescue teams advise lost people to stay in one place unless they are in danger or know exactly how to reach safety. A stationary person is easier to find and uses less energy. Move only if:

• You know with certainty where the nearest safe place is, and you can reach it in good time and safe conditions.
• Your current spot is unsafe, for example in an avalanche path, under a cornice, on thin ice or in a flood zone.
• You have to move a short distance to reach shelter from wind or to find an open area for signaling.

If you move, mark your route with sticks, rocks or brightly colored items so you can return, and leave a note if you are leaving a vehicle. Follow your own tracks back when you can see them. Do not follow a stream or a ridge unless you know where it leads, and avoid steep slopes and cornices in poor visibility.

If you have phone coverage¶

Call or text your local emergency number, give your location in detail, and say that you are lost in snow. Share your coordinates if your phone can show them, and keep the phone close to your body so it stays warm, because batteries die fast in cold. Send brief messages instead of making long calls. Turn the screen brightness down, close other apps and use airplane mode between messages if you want to save power. In some countries you can send an emergency text. If you carry a personal locator beacon or satellite messenger, activate it and keep it in the open with a clear view of the sky.

Whiteout and poor visibility¶

A whiteout occurs when blowing or falling snow and flat light remove depth and contrast. People lose their sense of up and down, and they walk in circles or off a drop.

Ico wokora¶

1. Stop at once if you cannot see your feet, the horizon or the person ahead. Do not move toward a place you cannot see.
2. Stay together. Rope up or stay within touch of the group if conditions are severe, and count heads often.
3. Put on layers and a face covering. Take shelter from the wind behind a rock, a tree or a trench in the snow.
4. Use your map, compass and GPS to check where you are, and do not trust your sense of direction in a whiteout. People walk in curves without realizing it.
5. If you must move, choose a safe line, move slowly, and probe the ground ahead with a pole or ski pole. Avoid slopes, edges and open water.
6. Follow your tracks back if they are still visible and the route is safe, or wait for a break in the weather.
7. Do not leave the group or send one person ahead to scout alone.

For driving in blizzards and blowing snow, read ground blizzard, blowing snow whiteout and shelter rope tether lines. If you are in a car, stay with the vehicle, and see imodoka yamenetse.

Snow blindness¶

Bright snow can burn the eyes within hours, even on cloudy days. Wear sunglasses or goggles with full UV protection. If vision blurs and eyes feel gritty, cover them with a damp cloth and rest in the dark. See snow blindness.

Impanuka zo gutembera n'amaguru¶

Gukina umupira w’amaguru, gukina umupira w’amaguru n’ugutwara umupira w’amaguru bitera ibikomere ibihumbi n’ibihumbi buri rushana, benshi muri bo bakava ku kugwa no gutombora. Ibikomere vyo mu mutwe n’ivyo mu mugongo ni vyo bikomeye cane. Abana n’abatangura gukina ni bo bashobora gushikirwa n’ingorane nyinshi, kandi gutembera mu mabarabara, hafi y’ibiti canke ku nzira z’urubura birateye akaga canecane.

Gukingira ibikomere¶

• Ambara inkofero yagenewe gukina ku rubura igihe uriko uragenda ku rubura, ku rubura canke ku rubura. Inkofero z’amagare ntizipfuka ingaruka nk’izo.
• Icara canke uryamye ibirenge imbere ku birenge, kandi wirinde kumanuka umutwe.
• Hitamwo amabarabara ateye igomwe kandi ata biti, ibitandara, inzitiro, amabarabara, amazi canke imodoka zihagaze.
• Irinde imisozi yuzuye urubura canke yuzuye abantu kandi ntugende ku nzira y’amaguru mw’ijoro ata rumuri.
• Gumana urugendo rwiza n’abandi kandi urabe imbere y’uko utangura.
• Ntukwegere amagare y’ibirenge inyuma y’ibinyabiziga.
• Huza igikorwa n’ubuhinga bwawe, maze ufate ivyigwa.
• Suzuma uko ibintu vyifashe be n’imburi iyo ari yo yose y’urubura rwo mu misozi. Nimba utegura gusiga inzira zifise ikimenyetso, nutware imyimenyerezo n’ibikoresho bikwiye, kandi ugende n’abo mujana bamenyerejwe.

Inyuma y'impanuka¶

1. Hagarara maze usuzume aho hantu. Raba neza ko wewe n’uwakomeretse mutari mu nzira y’abandi, maze ushire ikimenyetso aho hantu mu kujabuka amaguru canke amaguru y’amaguru muduga uwo muntu.
2. Hamagara abajejwe gucungera ski canke inomero y’ivyihutirwa yo mu karere kawe kugira ngo bafashwe. Tanga aho hantu nyaho.
3. Ntukigere unyiganyiga umuntu ashobora kuba yarakomeretse mu mutwe, mw’izosi canke mu mugongo. Umuntu agume ahagaze kandi asusurutse, kandi ushire umutwe mu kibanza ubonye. Raba ibikomere vyo mu mugongo.
4. Suzuma ukuntu ahumeka maze utangure gukora CPR nimba uwo muntu ataco yishuye kandi adahema neza.
5. Gucungera amaraso ukoresheje umukazo ukomeye, kandi uvure iyo umuntu ashobewe mu kumugumiza asusurutse no kuryama.
6. Uwo muntu umukingire urubura ukoresheje ipaki, ikoti canke igitambaro co kuryamako, hanyuma umupfuke umutwe n’izosi.
7. Raba uwo muntu ibimenyetso vy’ugukomeretswa mu mutwe, nk’uguhagarika umutima, gukorora, gusinzira canke umutwe urushiriza kubabara. Raba gukomerekera mu mutwe.
8. Vura amagufa avunitse mu gucapura mu kibanza ubonye igihe utegerezwa kurindira igihe kirekire. Raba amagufa avunitse n'ibikomere.

Ku bindi ku bikomere vyo ku mfuruka n’ico wokora, raba gukina umupira w'amaguru, gukina umupira w'amaguru n'impanuka. Ku bijanye n’akaga kadasanzwe ko kugwa mu rubura rukikuje ibiti, soma . Igiti kiri mu mazi y'iriba n'urubura rwinshi.

Ubutaka bw'urubura¶

Ivyuma vy’urubura vyica abantu bagenda mu bibanza vy’inyuma y’igihugu biteye igomwe ata n’umwe yimenyereje. Niwava mu bibanza bigenzurwa, nusuzume ubuhanuzi bw’urubura rwo mu karere, ufate inzira, kandi utware igikoresho co gutanga amakuru, igikoresho co gupima n’igikoresho co gupima, kandi umenye uko wobikoresha. Iyo umugenzi ahambwe, hindura uburyo bwo kurondera maze utangure kurondera ubwo nyene, kubera ko amahirwe yo kurokoka agabanuka ningoga mu minota 15 ya mbere. Iyi nsiguro ntisubirira imyimenyerezo y’ugutera ibicu.

Ubuhungiro no kuguma ususurutse gushika ukizwe¶

Igihe uburokozi butazoza amasaha menshi, uburaro buraba ikintu ca mbere ushira imbere. Bihagarika umuyaga, bikagutuma uguma wumutse kandi bikagabanya ubushuhe. Ivyo ubikore imbere y’uko uruha, kandi imbere y’uko umwijima uba.

Hitamwo ahantu¶

• Hitamwo ahantu mu muyaga, kure y’ibitandara vy’amabuye y’agaciro, amabuye y’agaciro, ibitandara, ahantu umwuzure utera, be n’ibiti bipfuye canke vyeremerewe cane.
• Rondera ahantu umuyaga ushobora gukingira nk’urutare runini, ibiti vyinshi bihora bimera, umwobo canke umuyaga. Irinde amariba y’ibiti, ari vyo binogo biteye akaga bikikuje ibiti.
• Gumana uboneka nimba ushaka ko bagusanga, nk’akarorero ku nkengera y’ahantu hagutse aho kuja mu ishyamba ryinshi.

Kubaka ubuhungiro bwihuse¶

1. Ubanze ukingire hasi. Urubura n’isi ikaze bifata ubushuhe ningoga kuruta umuyaga. Icara canke uryamye ku mpapuro zawe, ku gipfukisho c’ifu, ku mpuzu z’inyuma, ku gipande c’amashami y’ivyatsi bihoraho canke ku kintu cose cyumye.
2. Kora igikingira umuyaga. Koresha ihema ryawe, igitambaro, igitambaro co mu kirere canke uruhome rw’ibipande vy’urubura. N’uruhome rworoshe rurafasha.
3. Imba umugende w’urubura. Mu rubura rwinshi, wimba umugende ureha gatoyi kuruta umubiri wawe, uwupfuke n’igitambaro canke amashami, hanyuma urunde urubura hejuru. Sigaho umwuka.
4. Wubake umwobo w’urubura iyo ufise imyimenyerezo gusa. Bifata amasaha n’impuzu zitose, kandi utegerezwa kuguma ufunguye umwobo wo gusohora umwuka n’ubwinjiriro buri munsi y’aho umuntu asinzira. Ntukishireko ikidodo.
5. Koresha umufuko wa bivouac canke uburengeti bw’ivyihutirwa. Umufuko wa bivy utuma umuyaga n’ubukonje bitaza. Impuzu yo mu kirere iragaragaza ubushuhe bumwebumwe ariko ikora neza cane imbere mu gafuko canke munsi y’ikoti.
6. Gusangira ubushuhe. Icara hafi y’abandi, umugongo canke iruhande, umuntu mutoyi cane abe hagati.

Stay warm¶

• Wear layers: a wicking base, an insulating mid layer and a windproof, waterproof shell. Wool and synthetic fabrics stay warm when damp, while cotton does not.
• Keep your head, neck, hands and feet covered. Put on dry socks and keep your boots loose so circulation is not blocked.
• Avoid sweating. Take off a layer before you start working hard, and put it back when you stop.
• Eat small snacks often, especially fats and sugars. Drink warm liquids when possible, and drink water even if you are not thirsty.
• Do not eat snow when you are cold. It lowers body temperature. Melt it first in a container using a stove, or under your clothing in a sealed bottle if you have no stove.
• Irinde inzoga n’itabi. Inzoga zituma imitsi y’amaraso yaguka kandi zigatuma ubushuhe bugenda bwihuta.
• Niwinyigishe amaboko n’amaguru yawe maze ushire imitsi yawe mu bice bigufi kugira ngo ushiremwo ubushuhe. Ntukore imyimenyerezo gushika urushe.
• Gumana wumutse. Kura urubura, kandi wume amaganzu canke amasoseti hafi y’umubiri wawe.
• Koresha amapaki y’ubushuhe imbere mu mpuzu hafi y’umubiri, ntukoreshe urukoba.

Umuriro¶

Iyo ufise igikoresho co gucana, ikibiriti n’ibikoresho vyumye, umuriro uratanga ubushuhe, ikimenyetso n’ugutera imbere mu vy’inyifato runtu. Uwubake ku gitereko c’ibiti vy’icatsi kibisi canke ibitandara hejuru y’urubura, uwugumye ari muto kandi ufise ubuhungiro, kandi uwugumye kure y’aho wikingira be n’amashami y’ibiti atera urubura. Ntukigere uturira umuriro mu mwobo w’urubura wugarijwe ata mwuka, kandi ntukigere ukoresha ivyuma vy’umuriro mu ihema ryugarijwe. Raba umwuka w'ikirere.

Signaling for rescue¶

Rule of three is the international distress pattern: three whistle blasts, three shouts, three fires or three flashes. Use it, then listen for an answer, which may be two signals.

Recognizing cold injuries¶

Check yourself and your companions often. Cold impairs judgment, so a sleepy or confused person may not know they are in trouble.

Raba ubushuhe burengeje urugero n'ubukonje kandi ubugaragwa ubushuhe n'ubukonje for treatment steps. Ntushire urukoba rwakozwe n’urubura, ntukoreshe ubushuhe butaziguye, kandi ntureke ikirenge cakozwe n’urubura kishonge nimba ubwirizwa kukigenderako maze ugashobora gusubira gukonja.

Ingingo igenda iyo hari ikintu kigenda nabi hanze¶

flowchart TD
    A["Ivyihutirwa vy'urushana hanze"] --> B{"Mu mazi canke ku barafu yamenetse?"}
    B -->|"Ego"| C["Gucungera impwemu, kureremba, gutera umupira ku ruhande rw'urubura<br/>hanyuma usohoke hanyuma ususurutse"]
    B -->|"Oya"| D{"Wakomeretse canke ntushobora kugenda?"}
    D -->|"Ego"| E["Hamagara abafashe, ushire uwo muntu<br/>kandi umugumye ahagaze"]
    D -->|"Oya"| F{"Lost or in a whiteout?"}
    F -->|"Ego"| G["Hagarara, wiyumvire, wihweze kandi utegure<br/>guma uhagaze kiretse iyo udatekanye"]
    F -->|"Oya"| H["Suzuma ikirere n'umuco w'umutaga<br/>maze usubire kare"]
    C --> I["Uburaro, ibipande vyumye, ivyo kunywa bishushe"]
    E --> I
    G --> I
    I --> J["Ikimenyetso gifise ifirimbi, umuco n'ivyuma bikeye"]
    J --> K["Zigama inguvu n'ubushuhe<br/>kandi urindire gutabara"]

Preparing before you go¶

Ivyihutirwa vyiza kuruta ibindi vyose vyo mu rushana ni ivyo bitazokwigera bishika. Gutegura ntibitwara amahera menshi kandi bituma ivyo vyose biri hejuru vyoroha.

Plan and tell someone¶

• Suzuma ubuhanuzi bw'ikirere, itangazo ry'urubura, raporo z'urubura n'amasaha y'umutaga. Subira inyuma iyo ibintu bihindutse.
• Leave a trip plan with someone reliable: route, group size, vehicle description, expected return time and what to do if you are late.
• Nimugende n’abandi aho bishoboka, kandi mugume muri kumwe n’umugwi.
• Hitamwo inzira zihuye n’ubushobozi bw’umuntu atazi cane.
• Tangurira kare, ushireho umwanya wo guhindukira maze uwugumyeko.

Tware ivy'ingenzi¶

• Ikarata, busole na GPS canke telefone ifise amakarata atari mu murongo. Raba offline smartphone survival if you want a phone based option.
• Extra insulating layers, a hat, gloves, and a waterproof shell
• Emergency shelter, such as a bivy sack or large heavy duty bag, and a foam pad
• Headlamp with spare batteries
• Whistle, mirror and a personal locator beacon or satellite messenger for remote areas
• Food and a hot drink in an insulated bottle, with more than you expect to need
• Fire starters, a lighter and waterproof matches
• First aid kit with a space blanket and heat packs. See first aid kit.
• Knife or multitool, and repair items
• Sun protection and goggles
• Ice picks or rescue spikes if you travel on frozen water

Keep spare batteries and your phone inside a warm pocket. Lithium batteries last longer in cold than alkaline cells. Store essentials in a pack that you carry, and not in the car.

Match gear to the trip¶

For vehicle travel, keep a winter kit in the car. See vehicle winter blizzard survival kit kandi igikoresho c'ivyihutirwa c'imodoka. For going out on foot, a day pack with the items above takes only a few minutes to prepare.

Checklist before a winter outing¶

• I checked weather, ice and avalanche information.
• Someone has my plan and return time.
• I carry map, compass and a charged phone, plus a power bank.
• I have extra layers, hat, gloves, and a shell, plus an emergency shelter.
• I have food, a hot drink, a whistle and a headlamp.
• I have a lighter and fire starters.
• I wear a helmet for snow sports, and ice picks if I will cross ice.
• I know how to treat hypothermia and frostbite.

Ibibazo bikunda kubazwa¶

What should I do first if I fall into freezing water?¶

Keep calm and control your breathing for the first minute, because cold shock causes gasping that can lead to drowning. Keep your head above water, turn toward where you came from, place your arms on the ice and kick to pull yourself flat onto the surface, then roll away from the hole. Get warm quickly and call your local emergency number even if you feel fine.

Should I stay put or keep walking if I am lost in snow?¶

Stay put in most cases, since a person who stays in one place is easier to find and loses less energy and heat. Move only if you know for certain where safety is, if your position is dangerous, or to get out of the wind. Make a shelter, insulate yourself from the ground, and signal with a whistle, bright items and your phone.

How do I stay warm until rescuers arrive?¶

Put on dry layers, cover your head, hands and feet, insulate from the snow, and get out of the wind. Eat small snacks often and drink warm fluids, avoid sweating and alcohol, and huddle with others if you can. Keep moving your arms and legs in short bursts, and keep your phone warm so that it works.

What are the warning signs of a serious sledding or skiing injury?¶

Treat any head strike with loss of consciousness, confusion, vomiting, severe headache, neck or back pain, numbness or weakness, or a bent limb as serious. Keep the person still and warm and call ski patrol or your local emergency number. Do not move someone with a possible spinal injury unless they are in immediate danger.

Amasoko yasuzumwe¶

This guide was checked against the National Weather Service (United States) winter weather and wind chill pages, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (United States) guidance on hypothermia and frostbite, the National Park Service (United States) winter safety advice, the American Red Cross winter safety and first aid pages, the Canadian Red Cross and the Lifesaving Society of Canada cold water guidance, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (United Kingdom) cold water shock advice, the National Health Service (United Kingdom) hypothermia page, the Met Office (United Kingdom) winter weather advice, Mountain Rescue England and Wales guidance on lost and stranded walkers, and Health Canada winter safety pages. Where agencies differ on times or distances, the more cautious figures are used.

Iga ubutabazi bwa mbere¶

A hands-on first aid course gives you the practice that makes a real difference in the cold, when fingers are numb and thinking is slow. The Red Cross, St John Ambulance and local providers teach wilderness first aid, CPR and hypothermia care. Take a course before winter and bring a friend.

Inyobora zifitaniye isano¶

• Wilderness hypothermia and cold
• Gugwa mu barafu
• Yazimiye mu gihe yariko aratembera canke akambika
• Ubushuhe buke n'ubukonje
• Gukina ski, gukina snowboard n'impanuka zo ku nzira