Cymdeithas Parc Bannau Brycheiniog
Brecon Beacons Park Society
www.breconbeaconsparksociety.org

The article shown below is from the Winter 2008 edition of
 THE BEACON

HYPOTHERMIA

Anne Marie Lawrence
(ex Registered General Nurse)

At this time of the year the risks of hypothermia are ever present, and after even a short venture out into the cold can cause us to cool rapidly (even in the space of five minutes). Experienced walkers such as members of the Park Society are largely familiar with the basic kit required such as warm headgear and gloves. The main problem also is the wind chill factor, which is especially in force as we climb higher up into the mountains. 
I have noticed how many people on Park Society walks wait until the very latest possible moment before they put on their waterproofs or even gloves, which is the most dangerous thing to do. The secret of avoiding cooling down is to wrap up in advance, for example, do not wait until you are up at height and have already started to feel the effects of the wind chill factor, i.e. you are already cooling rapidly and fighting a battle which would have been unnecessary if you had simply done some forward planning. 
Once the body has cooled down it takes a long time for it to get back to normal, and this causes great fatigue which makes you slow down. This means you spend an even greater length of time exposed to the elements at their worst. 
Most people are aware that large amounts of heat escapes from the peripheries: hands, feet and of course the head, yet I notice that many people do not wear a hat which to me is essential to prevent cooling and the numbness which comes with it. 
If you have already started cooling down, one of the first signs of hypothermia is shivering, this is the body simply trying to create heat. This must be taken very seriously and not ignored. If you or your companion in the group start to shiver you must stop and check yourself or the person concerned. Firstly are they completely protected? hands, feet, head all covered up. The next thing is to try taking a hot drink to try to increase the core temperature of the body, also something sweet would help to give an instant boost to counter the lethargy. 
If the person concerned is cold, it is best to move on as rapidly as possible, since the energy used can help to warm up the body. We have all noticed how quickly we cool down if we sit still for too long in an exposed location. As soon as we start moving again we start to warm up. 
It is important that we watch out for each other. Isn’t it so often the case that a person might be too embarrassed to admit to or inform anyone that they are really becoming too cold ? If a person is unable to warm up in spite of taking the measures above, then the most sensible option is to get them out of the wind, and into a more sheltered location as quickly as possible . 
If preventative action is not taken then the person will simply continue to cool down and then it could become a medical emergency which could well require hospitalisation. 
I may well be preaching to the converted but I only wish to say how important it is to look out for ourselves and each other at every stage of all the Park Society walks.