Water is crucial for survival, even in winter. Humidity is usually lower through the winter, meaning our bodies excrete moisture at a better rate than other times of the 12 months.
This signifies that in a survival situation you’ll want to discover a source of water, and quickly, as symptoms of dehydration can occur quickly.
In winter, access to water could also be easier as the bottom is roofed with snow.
Most people speak about melting snow, however it takes time and resources. In a survival situation, you do not at all times have time.
Wouldn’t or not it’s useful to only eat snow as a source of water? Just how secure? And is it a great idea?
No, never eat fresh snow in survival situations unless you melt it first. Snow may cause your body temperature to drop, causing hypothermia, and your body will work harder to melt it, thus burning unnecessary calories.
Instead, you should look for tactics to melt the snow to warm it and eliminate any dangerous contaminants or viruses.
Why is eating snow bad for the body?
It’s necessary to administer your energy levels in a survival situation. This includes every part from calories to keeping you warm.
In a way, every motion counts should you haven’t got a option to replenish the resources you have used up.
This applies not only to our external actions, but additionally to the processes our bodies undergo. Your energy input should be greater than your output if you should survive.
Eating fresh snow off the bottom can affect your body in ways you don’t need in a survival situation.
Since snow is cold, we want to heat it to show it right into a liquid, and that takes calories.
You can see that by eating an excessive amount of snow, we each cool our bodies and waste energy that might be used to remain warm.
Snow can hide all styles of nasty bacteria and viruses. If your snow source has been contaminated in any way, it’s possible you’ll turn into unwell, which might result in further dehydration or other ailments.
Also, if the weather starts to warm up, you’ll be able to catch snow fleas should you’re not careful.
It’s best to melt the snow completely and convey it to a fast boil to be sure it’s suitable for eating.
Melting snow is the safest option to eat it
It is in your best interest to boil any water you discover within the bush, whether it comes from snow or not.
Not only does it kill potential pathogens, but drinking it raises your body temperature.
Add some white pine needles to make a soothing tea that also helps fight disease.
You can even melt ice to make drinking water, but again be sure you check the source of the ice as it could not necessarily be clean.
If you are getting ice from a lake, you’ll have to boil the water because bacteria can live in a really cold environment.
Melting ice can provide higher water yield because snow is generally air. It takes several pots stuffed with snow to make a small bottle of drinking water.
Ways to melt snow in a survival situation
Cook the snow
This is probably the most common practice and involves using a campfire to melt the snow in a cooking pot.
If you haven’t got a pot available, search for any container that may hold snow and keep it near the fireplace.
In the blink of a watch, you should use white birch bark and form a container from long strips or sheets of wood.
Aboriginal tribes used birch bark to make canoes due to their waterproof and light-weight properties. Perfect for holding water in a survival situation.
This method is a perfect option to make sure that the melted snow is drinkable and disease-free.
Additionally, you’ll be able to filter out any impurities with a tissue or shirt. Store water in a bottle or covered container and keep it near your body so it doesn’t freeze.
Solar heat
Using the sun to passively melt snow is great for melting large amounts.
Simply place the snow in a container that’s warmed by the sun, and because the day progresses, water will accumulate within the container.
The black container is good since the sun’s energy is absorbed by the black material and retained, not dissipated.
As long because the temperature of the snow is above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, it can melt.
Be sure to cover the container flippantly in order that debris cannot fall inside.
Note that this doesn’t eliminate any bacteria or harmful pathogens that could be present, and it continues to be beneficial that you just boil the water for at the least 5 minutes afterwards.
Body heat
This is one other passive option to melt snow that works best when climbing within the woods. You will need a water bottle that will not be completely empty and fresh snow around you.
The idea is to get some snow into the water bottle and the remaining room temperature water will speed up the melting process.
Keep a water bottle near your body and the warmth will continuously melt as you walk.
Just add more snow to the bottle and repeat the method. Of course, this method can even make you sick, so watch out where you get snow.
Stay hydrated with common sense
Melting snow should not be your first option for water in a survival situation. You can prepare for many situations by having extra water or at the least a supply of water purification items.
If you might be traveling by automobile, having these spare items needs to be a matter in fact.
If you will need to use snow to replenish your water supply, boiling will likely be the most effective option to provide this without risking your health.
