Scout Meeting Schedule: Week Nine

11 Year Old Scouts

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OBJECTIVE:

• To demonstrate the Scouts knowledge of weather conditions and hazards that can be encountered.

• Knowledge of the causes, symptoms, signs, prevention and treatment of:

  • Hypothermia

  • Frostbite

  • Sunburn

  • Sunstroke

  • Dehydration

LEADERS PURPOSE:

• To help the new beginner Scout learn the same basic survival conditions

• To help the new beginner Scout learns weather hazards while outdoors in various weather conditions.

• Make a 10 – 15 min presentation using the materials included in this weeks package.

• Print “Snow Fun” question answer pages onto cardstock

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BADGE REQUIREMENTS:

Voyageur Award - Outdoor Skills p.77(3)

 

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PREPARATION, MATERIALS & SUPPLIES:

• Card Stock copy of Snow Fun Question and Answer sheets for each boy.

• One silver ring to hold cards together for each boy. (dollar store)

• Single Whole punch for cards.

• Scissors for each group or each boy

• Glue for each group or each boy

 

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PROGRAM DETAILS:

 

Activity	Details
Gathering  Activity	British Bulldog   Equipment: Two lengths of rope to use as marking lines (use chalk indoors). If stamping out lines in snow, reinforce the lines with coloured water.   How to Play: Place the ropes about three metres apart. All of the troop except for one patrol goes behind one of the lines. The patrol stands in the centre. On signal, the Scouts behind the line try to get across the centre space and behind the line at the other end, without being caught by the patrol in the middle. Being caught consists of being lifted clear of the floor long enough for the words “British Bulldog” to be called. Scouts caught join those in the centre and assist in the catching of the remaining Scouts as they make succeeding runs until all are caught. The last caught is the winner. A Scout making the slightest touch across a line is considered to be across. A further rule is that everyone makes their way across independently. This should not be an “inter-patrol” game. It is important to allow time for all Scouts held in the centre to be lifted clear of the floor. Time must also be given for the Scouts in the middle to assume ready position before the whistle is sounded for a return run.     SNOW FUN GATHERING ACTIVITY - Quick Pursuit   Equipment: None   How to Play: Players line up evenly around a circular course. On signal, all players run in the same direction around the circle. The idea is for each player to pass the player in front of them. Those who are passed drop out of the game. The race continues until one person is left or until time is called. Variation: In order to keep everyone moving, the players that are passed step out of the circle and start to run in the opposite direction, attempting to overtake other eliminated players. If they are passed again, they join the inner circle, etc. until time is called. This keeps everyone moving and active, so they don’t get cold standing around.
Opening Exercises
Skills	Winter First Aid:: Cold Injuries Low temperatures can lead to cold injuries, particularly when there are high winds or when the body becomes wet. Try to prevent cold injuries by dressing appropriately and not staying in the cold too long. Hypothermia and frostbite can occur together or separately in such cases. If someone in your group does suffer hypothermia or frostbite, you should know what to do.   Frostbite Frostbite is a type of cold injury occurring in specific body parts exposed to the cold. In frostbite, body tissues freeze. In superficial frostbite the skin is frozen but not the tissues below. In deep frostbite both the skin and underlying tissues are frozen. Both types of frostbite are serious.   Frostbite can usually be prevented with common sense. Follow these guidelines:   Avoid exposing any part of the body to the cold. Wear a hat and layers of clothing. Drink plenty of warm fluids or water. Avoid alcohol. Take frequent breaks from the cold.   Depending on the circumstances and how long the person is exposed to the cold, frostbite may occur by itself or along with hypothermia. Signs and symptoms of frostbite are-   Lack of feeling in the affected area. Skin that appears waxy. Skin that is cold to the touch. Skin that is discoloured (flushed, white, yellow blue).   The specific care for frostbite includes the following: Cover the affected area to keep it warm until you can immerse it in water. Handle the area gently and never rub it because rubbing causes further damage. Warm the area gently by immersing the affected part in water warmed to 40.5 degrees C. If possible, use a thermometer to check the water. Keep the frostbitten part in the water until it looks red and feels warm. Bandage the area with a dry, sterile dressing. If fingers or toes are frostbitten, place cotton or gauze between them. Avoid breaking any blisters. Get the person to medical care.                 Frostbite   Frostbite refers to the freezing of tissues when exposed to temperatures below zero. It is a progressive injury with two stages: frostnip, superficial frostbite and deep frostbite.   First aid for superficial frostbite   Gradually rewarm the frostbitten part with body heat. cover frostbitten toes, ears, etc. with warm hands warm up frostbitten fingers by breathing on them or placing them in a warm area of the body like the armpit, abdomen or groin Take measures to prevent these areas from freezing again—either stop the activity or dress more appropriately.                 Cautions in first aid for frostbite          Do not rub the area—the tiny ice crystals in the tissues may cause more tissue damage.          Do not rub snow on the area—this may cause further freezing and tissue damage from the rubbing.          Do not apply direct heat; this may rewarm the area too quickly.       Hypothermia   When hiking, be aware of the danger of hypothermia. Hypothermia is a cooling of the body to the point at which the body’s natural re-warming mechanisms cannot be maintained. This condition may occur if a person is dressed inappropriately for the cold, stays in the cold too long, or becomes wet from perspiration or falling into water.   This is one of the biggest threats while winter camping. Usually people who die from exposure have died from hypothermia. A person could be in danger of hypothermia if exhausted, wet, exposed to wind, or undernourished. Under such conditions, the air doesn’t have to be cold or below freezing - a moderate temperature of 5 to 10 degrees C can cause death. Warm the frostbitten area gently by soaking it in warm water. After re-warming, bandage the area with a dry, sterile dressing. If fingers or toes are frostbitten, place gauze between them.   To avoid hypothermia, stay dry. Put rain gear on before it starts to rain, and make sure it is waterproof, not just water repellent. Make sure it provides adequate ventilation or else the person will become wet inside from perspiration, defeating the purpose of rain gear. Protect yourself from the wind. Windbreaks and other shelters should be considered before setting out in windy weather. Make sure you have warm clothing including a hat. Remember that wool keeps its ability to retain heat even when wet. Put on an extra dry sweater after exertion from working or playing, not before. Avoid exhaustion. Set a reasonable hiking pace that won’t leave people ready to drop by mealtime. Don’t over exert yourself in games, as you must keep your energy reserve ready to fight off the chill that means the onset of hypothermia. Finally, make sure you have some high energy food to nibble on while hiking and drink lots of water to avoid dehydration.   Symptoms Hypothermia can start slowly on a hiking trip or quickly, as in being soaked after falling through ice into freezing water. The symptoms include feeling chilly, tired and irritable. If not helped at this stage, the hypothermia victim begins to shiver uncontrollably. Soon the shivering becomes even worse and the victim may begin to act strangely. Slowing, stumbling, weakness, and repeated falling may happen. If the shivering stops, then the person is close to death. Remember, in many cases the victim doesn’t realize what is happening and may deny that there is anything wrong.   First Aid for Hypothermia If you are on a backpacking trip or winter camping and you realize someone is suffering from hypothermia, stop immediately. Put up a shelter. Strip the patient gently and put into a dry, warm sleeping bag. Do not massage or rub the patient. Light a fire nearby to provide heat and to prepare a warm, sweet, nourishing drink.   Remember the warming process is slow, and it may take six to eight hours to re-warm a person who has been seriously stricken. Even after the victim’s body begins to feel warm, the cold blood circulating from the extremities (head, feet and hands) back to the body’s core can produce an after drop, a continued lowering of the body temperature.   After any serious brush with hypothermia, the outing should be ended. If one person has fallen victim to hypothermia, chances are others may be in danger too. Remember that small people and children with smaller body size and less body fat can be more susceptible to the cold.                                                                                                                     Preventing hypothermia Protect yourself from hypothermia in the following ways: Don’t start an activity in, on, or around cold water unless you know you can get help quickly in an emergency. Wear a Department of Transportation (DOT)-approved personal flotation device (PFD) while boating. Have PFDs at hand whenever you are near cold water. A PFD will help you float in a rescue position if you fall in cold water, and some styles provide insulation against cold water. If you’re near water in cooler weather, wear rain gear and/or wool clothes. Wool insulates you even when it is wet. Wear layers of clothing, and wear a hat. As much as 60% of body heat loss occurs through the head. Carry matches in a waterproof container. You may need to build a fire to warm up after a fall into cold water. Carry a chocolate bar or high-energy food containing sugar. Glucose stimulates shivering, the body’s Internal mechanism for re-warming itself. If you must snowmobile over ice-covered lakes and rivers, wear a buoyant snowmobile survival suit.   Caring for someone with hypothermia Anyone in cold water or in wet clothes for a long time may develop hypothermia. Children under 12 and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. You need to recognize the signals of hypothermia in order to act quickly and get emergency help. Bluish lips and shivering may be the first things you see. Other signals include a feeling of weakness, confusion, a slow or irregular pulse, numbness, slurred speech, and semi-consciousness or unconsciousness. Exposure to cold water is a severe physical shock.   Follow these guidelines to help another person who has hypothermia from being in cold water: Treat the person very gently and monitor breathing carefully. Remove wet clothes, dry the person, and move him or her to a warm environment. Wrap the person in blankets or put on dry clothes. Do not warm the person too quickly by immersing him or her in warm water. Rapid warming may affect heart rhythms. Remember that hypothermia can be life-threatening. If available, put hot water bottles, heating pads (if the person is dry), or other heat sources on the body, keeping a blanket or towel between the heat source and skin to avoid burns. If the person is alert, give warm liquids to drink.   Snow blindness First aid for intense light burns to the eye(s)   Burns to the eyes may be caused by intense light such as direct or reflected sunlight and arc welder’s flash. Snowblindness is a common injury of this kind. As with a sunburn, the casualty may not feel the tissue damage happening but will develop symptoms several hours after exposure. Signs and symptoms include: sensitivity to light pain a gritty feeling in the eyes   Give first aid as follows: Wash your hands or put gloves on if available. Cover the eyes to cool them and keep the light out. The casualty will be temporarily blinded, so you must reassure him/her often and explain what you are doing. If the casualty doesn’t want both eyes covered, even after an explanation and reassurance, than cover only one eye. Get medical help and give ongoing casualty care.   Snowblindness The term snowblindness isn’t quite accurate since actual blindness doesn’t occur. The symptoms are as follows: First there is a gritty feeling in the eyes, then they become hot and sticky, begin to water, and vision becomes blurred. Next comes sharp pain and an impulse to shrink from light.   The sun doesn’t even have to be shining to cause snowblindness as it most often develops on days when the sky is slightly overcast and there is little shadow.   Polarized or amber coloured glasses are good prevention and protection. These must have side ventilation to prevent frosting. If you feel any of the symptoms of snowblindness and you don’t have sunglasses, keep your eyes fixed on a dark object ahead, such as a dark canvas covering, a loaded toboggan, sled or the back of a companion mushing ahead of you. A trail-breaker developing eye trouble should fall back to the end of the line.   If you can’t avoid looking at bright snow, you can give your eyes some help by almost closing the lids and looking through your eyelashes.   To cut down on glare, blackening the nose and cheekbones with a mixture of charcoal and grease may be helpful.   Camp treatment for snowblindness consists of applying cold compresses or ice wrapped in gauze and shielding the eyes as effectively as possible. In serious cases, the patient should be kept in a darkened place for as long as necessary.   Carbon Monoxide People camping in winter should understand the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning in snow shelters as well as tents.   With carbon monoxide poisoning, there is no smell or other advance warning. A sudden severe headache, dizziness and sickness may be followed quickly by unconsciousness. Remember that carbon monoxide poisoning is easily recognizable by the cherry red colour of the victim’s face.   To aid: Make sure you can give first aid safely without putting yourself in danger. Drag the casualty out into the fresh air if you suspect a faulty tent heater. Give first aid, checking the A,B,C’s. (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) Make breathing easier for the casualty - place him in a semi-sitting position and loosen tight clothing at the neck, chest and waist. Monitor breathing closely. If breathing is ineffective, give assisted breathing. If breathing stops, give CPR. Give first aid for shock. Give ongoing casualty care until handover to medical help.   Quiz Game: Copy question and answer cards onto card stock. Give a copy to each scout. Have each Scout cut the answer cards apart. Have them race to see who can match up the question and answers the fastest. Once they think they have the right answers, have them take turns telling the patrol the correct answer to each question. If they have any wrong answers have them correct the placement of the answer card and continue. Once all question and answers are matched up correctly have them glue them into place, cut them apart and hole punch. Then put them all on a ring for future reference.   Quiz Answers (These answers are for your use only to check the answers of the scouts)   Part A: True or False False. Winter is a great time for camping. Because the ground is frozen, you can go almost anywhere. Skis and snowshoes let you penetrate further into the unexplored wilderness, toboggans make it easy to move heavy loads, and best of all, there are no bugs! True. The secret to safe winter camping is having appropriate equipment. Proper clothing and an adequate sleeping bag aren’t luxuries in winter; they’re necessities. False. Your winter clothing needs will vary according to the type of activity you undertake and the amount of energy being expended. The clothing needed to keep someone safe and warm is different from that required by a cross-country skier in hilly terrain at the same temperature. False. Seventy percent of the heat lost by your body leaves through your head. A toque or warm hat is vital for warmth. Use your toque as an effective thermostat to regulate your body heat. Getting too warm? Take your toque off. Getting too cold? Put it back on. Why not carry several toques? A heavy woolen toque is great at the end of a long day on the trail but may be too warm to wear while you are underway. A lighter nylon one will prove useful when it’s too cold to uncover, but too warm to wear a heavy toque. False. While wool is a good insulator (even when wet) silk or cotton are not. When it comes to winter activities, cotton is perhaps the most dangerous fibre on the market. Cotton absorbs water and holds on to it, thus permitting it to freeze on your body. Not all man-made fibres are made equal either. Polypropylene and some of the other newer synthetics are excellent. They will quickly wick body moisture away from your body, while remaining relatively dry to the touch. They also retain some of their insulation value even when wet. When it comes to sleeping bags, synthetic insulation is excellent. Unlike down, synthetic retain much of its insulation value even when wet; it will also wick moisture to the outside. False. Ear muffs may keep your ears warm, but they won’t prevent heat from escaping from your head. False. Thinsulate™ gloves are particularly good for high energy activities such as cross-country skiing but for really cold days, you cannot beat a pair of leather mitts for warmth. If you need to use your hands for fine-motor activities (such as cooking), consider using a pair of light gloves as mitt liners. And remember to keep an extra pair of mitts in your pack in case your first pair gets wet. False. A heavy coat won’t be as warm as a number of layers of clothes that will trap pockets of air underneath. Also, as the day goes on, and you heat up from the exertion of hiking or skiing, you can peel off one or two layers; you can’t peel off a heavy coat. True. Wet clothing is cold clothing. When accidents happen, dry off and change into the dry socks or mitts you have in your pack. If your boots are wet too, slip your foot into a dry plastic bag and then into the wet boots. The plastic bag won’t wick moisture away from your foot, but your foot will still be warmer than it would be in a wet boot. True. Winter air is dry air. That’s why your lips crack in winter. Your body moisture may evaporate so quickly in winter that you might not even know you’re sweating. That’s why it’s particularly important to drink a 1/2 litre of fluid every hour during strenuous activities. Here’s a quick test that will warn you about moderate dehydration. How dark is the yellow colour of your urine? The darker the yellow, the more important it is to get additional fluid into the body. True. A cold, thirsty person who eats snow on a bitter day can die. The snow will rob heat from a person’s body and actually lower his or her core temperature. False. Solid human waste does not go away when the snow melts. It’s “the gift that keeps on giving” well into the next summer. If there are no toilet facilities available, don’t just bury it. Pack it out! Carry an unbreakable, waterproof, re-sealable container on the outside of your pack, for both waste and used toilet paper. Dispose of it safely when the opportunity presents itself. Otherwise, you’ll just contaminate spring run-off water. Fortunately, frozen waste doesn’t smell much, provided you keep it frozen. False. A summer sleeping bag is not suitable for winter camping. Winter camping demands a good mummy bag rated to the lowest temperature you’re likely to encounter. Rent one if you can’t afford to buy one. Also, don’t forget to bring at least one insulated pad. False. Tent heaters are not worth the risk of carbon monoxide, nor are they required in most circumstances. Plan ahead with the right equipment, and you won’t need heaters. True. If you cut off all liquids after supper, you won’t have many campers needing to pee in the middle of the night. To ensure a good sleep, just take a warm hike before bedtime. Then get back to the tents, strip down, towel off if necessary, slip into dry PJ’s, and skip into bed. The fresh air and exercise, combined with no extra drinks, will encourage sleep. As well, the exercise warms up the body and gets it producing heat       Part B: Find the Best Answer Dry clothes will keep you warm, while wet ones won’t . The more vigourous your outside activity, the more your body produces heat and sweat. Moisture absorbed by your clothes will cool down and eventually freeze. But when you stop — unless there is a warm shelter nearby — you’re going to cool down very rapidly if your clothes are damp. It won’t be long before you’re shivering. The best way to get warm is to get out of your wet duds quickly — preferably while your body is still warm. Before you strip down, put your dry clothes nearby. The most common dangers in winter are hypothermia, frostbite, dehydration and snow blindness. Frostbite occurs when a part of your body freezes. Usually, frostbite affects your ears, nose, fingers and toes, but in severe cases your hands, feet, legs and arms might freeze. Warm, dry clothing, mitts, scarves and toques will help you avoid this problem. Take a first aid course to learn how to treat frostbite, and how to avoid it. Hypothermia occurs when your core temperature begins to drop. If left untreated, the condition can quickly lead to coma and death. If you’re properly dressed and equipped, the chances of falling victim to hypothermia are greatly reduced. Leaders must make sure they bring all necessary equipment to protect their group. Snow blindness occurs from the reflected glare of the sun on the snow. Symptoms range from swollen and itchy eyes to a total (but usually temporary) loss of sight. As with hypothermia, a first aid course will teach you how to deal with this condition. Use good sun-glasses or goggles to protect your eyes on bright winter days. When selecting your glasses, look for ones that block both kinds of UV rays. And don’t forget to put sun-block on your skin. You can get a sun burn even at -20°C! Sun screen, sunglasses and lots of drinking water. Extra socks and mitts. Warm Hat, warm underwear and a good winter sleeping bag.   Quiz Cards: (for printable version of cards click here)   Questions   Q 1. True or False?  Camping is a three-season sport (spring, summer, autumn). No one should bring youth outside to camp in a Canadian winter.     Q 2. True or False? Proper clothing and equipment are the keys to a safe and enjoyable winter camp     Q 3. True or False? You should dress in the same way for all outdoor winter activities.     Q 4. True or False? A hat is the least essential piece of winter clothing.     Q 5. True or False? The best clothing material for winter is natural fibres, such as cotton     Q 6. True or False? Ear muffs will keep you as warm as a toque.     Q 7. True or False? A good pair of gloves is every bit as warm as a pair of mitts.     Q 8. True or False? If you’re wearing a heavy coat, it doesn’t matter what you have on underneath     Q 9. True or False? If your clothing is wet, you’ll get cold faster.     Q 10. True or False? You can dehydrate in winter faster than in summer.     Q 11. True or False? It’s dangerous to eat snow on a bitter winter day if you’re cold and thirsty.     Q 12. True or False? You don’t need to worry about human waste in the winter because it will all go away when the snow melts …     Q 13. True or False? All I need is a summer sleeping bag to keep warm as long as I have a track suit on…     Q 14. True or False? With so much crisp cold air around, there is no reason to worry about the carbon monoxide gas being spewed out by a defective tent heater…     Q 15. True or False? It is impossible to get a good nights rest on a winter camp…     Q 16. To help you stay warm, …     Q 17. If you get wet and cannot get back indoors quickly, ...     Q 18. The greatest dangers in winter are, …     Q 19. Frostbite occurs: …     Q 20. Hypothermia occurs, …     Q 21. Snow blindness occurs, …     Q 22. Items needed for winter camping include, …       Answers     A. False. Winter is a great time for camping. Because the ground is frozen, you can go almost anywhere. Skis and snowshoes let you penetrate further into the unexplored wilderness, toboggans make it easy to move heavy loads, and best of all, there are no bugs!     A. True. The secret to safe winter camping is having appropriate equipment. Proper clothing and an adequate sleeping bag aren’t luxuries in winter; they’re necessities.     A. False. Your winter clothing needs will vary according to the type of activity you undertake and the amount of energy being expended. The clothing needed to keep someone safe and warm is different from that required by a cross-country skier in hilly terrain at the same temperature.     A. False. Seventy percent of the heat lost by your body leaves through your head. A toque or warm hat is vital for warmth. Use your toque as an effective thermostat to regulate your body heat. Getting too warm? Take your toque off. Getting too cold? Put it back on. Why not carry several toques? A heavy woolen toque is great at the end of a long day on the trail but may be too warm to wear while you are underway. A lighter nylon one will prove useful when it’s too cold to uncover, but too warm to wear a heavy toque.     A. False. While wool is a good insulator (even when wet) silk or cotton are not. When it comes to winter activities, cotton is perhaps the most dangerous fibre on the market. Cotton absorbs water and holds on to it, thus permitting it to freeze on your body. Not all man-made fibres are made equal either. Polypropylene and some of the other newer synthetics are excellent. They will quickly wick body moisture away from your body, while remaining relatively dry to the touch. They also retain some of their insulation value even when wet. When it comes to sleeping bags, synthetic insulation is excellent. Unlike down, synthetic insulation will retain much of its insulation value even when wet; it will also wick moisture to the outside.     A. False. Ear muffs may keep your ears warm, but they won’t prevent heat from escaping from your head.     A. False. Thinsulate™ gloves are particularly good for high energy activities such as cross-country skiing but for really cold days, you cannot beat a pair of leather mitts for warmth. If you need to use your hands for fine-motor activities (such as cooking), consider using a pair of light gloves as mitt liners. And remember to keep an extra pair of mitts in your pack in case your first pair gets wet.     A. False. A heavy coat won’t be as warm as a number of layers of clothes that will trap pockets of air underneath. Also, as the day goes on, and you heat up from the exertion of hiking or skiing, you can peel off one or two layers; you can’t peel off a heavy coat.     A. True. Wet clothing is cold clothing. When accidents happen, dry off and change into the dry socks or mitts you have in your pack. If your boots are wet too, slip your foot into a dry plastic bag and then into the wet boots. The plastic bag won’t wick moisture away from your foot, but your foot will still be warmer than it would be in a wet boot.     A. True. Winter air is dry air. That’s why your lips crack in winter. Your body moisture may evaporate so quickly in winter that you might not even know you’re sweating. That’s why it’s particularly important to drink a 1/2 litre of fluid every hour during strenuous activities. Here’s a quick test that will warn you about moderate dehydration. How dark is the yellow colour of your urine? The darker the yellow, the more important it is to get additional fluid into the body.     A. True. A cold, thirsty person who eats snow on a bitter day can die. The snow will rob heat from a person’s body and actually lower his or her core temperature.     A. False: Solid human waste does not go away when the snow melts. It’s “the gift that keeps on giving” well into the next summer. If there are no toilet facilities available, don’t just bury it. Pack it out! Carry an unbreakable, waterproof, re-sealable container on the outside of your pack, for both waste and used toilet paper. Dispose of it safely when the opportunity presents itself. Otherwise, you’ll just contaminate spring run-off water. Fortunately, frozen waste doesn’t smell much, provided you keep it frozen.     A. False: A summer sleeping bag is not suitable for winter camping. Winter camping demands a good mummy bag rated to the lowest temperature you’re liely to encounter. Rent one if you can’t afford to buy one. Also, don’t forget to bring at least one insulated pad.     A. False: Tent heaters are not worth the risk of carbon monoxide, nor are they required in most circumstances. Plan ahead with the right equipment, and you won’t need heaters.     A. True: If you cut off all liquids after supper, you won’t have many campers needing to pee in the middle of the night. To ensure a good sleep, just take a warm hike before bedtime. Then get back to the tents, strip down, towel off if necessary, slip into dry PJ’s, and skip into bed. The fresh air and exercise, combined with no extra drinks, will encourage sleep. As well, the exercise warms up the body and gets it producing heat.     A. Dry clothes will keep you warm, while wet ones won’t . The more vigourous your outside activity, the more your body produces heat and sweat. Moisture absorbed by your clothes will cool down and eventually freeze. But when you stop — unless there is a warm shelter nearby — you’re going to cool down very rapidly if your clothes are damp. It won’t be long before you’re shivering.     A. The best way to get warm is to get out of your wet duds quickly — preferably while your body is still warm. Before you strip down, put your dry clothes nearby.     A. The most common dangers in winter are hypothermia, frostbite, dehydration and snow blindness.     A. Frostbite occurs when a part of your body freezes. Usually, frostbite affects your ears, nose, fingers and toes, but in severe cases your hands, feet, legs and arms might freeze. Warm, dry clothing, mitts, scarves and toques will help you avoid this problem. Take a first aid course to learn how to treat frostbite, and how to avoid it.     A. Hypothermia occurs when your core temperature begins to drop. If left untreated, the condition can quickly lead to coma and death. If you’re properly dressed and equipped, the chances of falling victim to hypothermia are greatly reduced. Leaders must make sure they bring all necessary equipment to protect their group.     A. Snow blindness occurs from the reflected glare of the sun on the snow. Symptoms range from swollen and itchy eyes to a total (but usually temporary) loss of sight. As with hypothermia, a first aid course will teach you how to deal with this condition. Use good sun-glasses or goggles to protect your eyes on bright winter days. When selecting your glasses, look for ones that block both kinds of UV rays. And don’t forget to put sun-block on your skin. You can get a sun burn even at -20°C!     A. Sun screen, sunglasses and lots of drinking water. Extra socks and mitts. Warm Hat, warm underwear and a good winter sleeping bag.
Closing  Exercises	Close the meeting