We can use our common sense to prevent hypothermia when out in the wild. Some of these might seem fairly simple and straightforward to you, but when you're in an extreme and urgent situation, you don't always think clearly. Keeping these tips stored in your head could save your life.

DON’T GET WET

1. After finding a source of water, make finding/creating shelter the next thing.

2. If you possibly can have at least a small fire up and running, do it.

3. Looks like it might start raining? Don’t be stupid! Wait out the storm while sheltered.

4. Doing something physically strenuous? Try taking breaks so you don’t sweat.

As sweat evaporates, it wicks away heat from your body – makes sense because that’s just what it was made to do! If it’s cold out and you’re sweating and then all of a sudden you stop doing such a physically laborious task, you’re going to get cold quick.

5. Weather getting hotter? Take off layers – again: avoid sweating.

GET WET? DO THIS

6. Take off wet clothes.

7. Dry wet clothes by leaving them in a sunny spot, and if you’ve got a fire, use that to help.

CREATE A WARM, INSULATED SHELTER

8. Choose a location that’s not likely to get wet.

Easier said than done when you don’t know the environment you’re in sometimes, but do your best to make sure whatever spot you choose to create a shelter is not one that’s going to end up flooded.

9. Do your best to make sure your shelter is covered on all four sides – as well as above of course.

10. Use dry loose leaves or leaved branches to insulate your shelter.

You can put these on top of your shelter if you’ve made one out of wood yourself. You can use these inside your shelter as well, even if you’re in a cave. Put dry leaves wherever you want, they’re great for insulation.

11. Use dry leaves to create a bed for yourself.

COLD WHILE DRY? TRY THESE

12. Temperature dropping? Time to head back to your shelter.

13. Windy out? Again, shelter yourself.

Wind can be biting levels of cold. If the wind is getting rougher, pack up and go use your shelter for what it’s meant to be used for.

14. Obviously, sit by a fire if you have one or can make one.

15. Boil some water and pine needles; drink tea!

Drinking tea is an excellent way of bringing up your core body temperature. You can simply have warmed water, but if there are pine needles around, nicer to have the tea.

16. Clothes not warm enough? Stuff your coat with dry leaves.

Nothing better than natural insulation and little to no effort or energy expenditure to boost your core temperature.

17. Move around. Really cold? Exercise.

If you think hypothermia might be a possibility, you should be doing this as a last resort to keep warm.

Do you have any other tips for avoiding hypothermia?

Article Source: More Than Just Surviving