Learn how the body loses heat outdoors and discover practical ways to reduce heat loss, manage exposure and stay safe in cold and changing conditions.
Activity Overview Difficulty: IntermediateTime: 30–45 minutesLocation: Suitable campsite or woodland camping areaBest for: Scouts and ExplorersSkills: Campcraft, survival skills, insulation, resourcefulness, outdoor safety Improvised ground insulation is a way of reducing heat loss between your body and the ground when you do not have enough conventional sleeping equipment. The ground can draw heat away from…
Children can become cold surprisingly quickly when spending time outdoors, particularly in cold, wet or windy conditions. For parents and Scout leaders, understanding heat loss in children is an important part of keeping outdoor activities comfortable and safe. Children may not always recognise that they are becoming cold, and they can become distracted by games…
When you’re cold outdoors, most people think about putting on another layer or finding shelter. Those are important steps, but your body position can also affect how quickly you lose heat. How you sit, stand, lie down or position yourself in relation to the wind and ground can influence your exposure to cold air and…
Wind chill is one of those outdoor weather terms that can be confusing at first. You might look at the forecast and see a temperature of 5°C, but then step outside into a strong wind and feel considerably colder. The temperature hasn’t actually dropped to a lower number. Instead, the wind is increasing the rate…
Cold ground can take heat away from your body surprisingly quickly. This is particularly important when camping, sitting outside, resting during a hike or dealing with an emergency situation. Even when the air temperature doesn’t seem particularly cold, contact with a cold surface can cause significant heat loss. Understanding how cold ground causes heat loss…
Wind can make cold weather feel much harsher than the temperature alone suggests. When you’re outdoors, moving air can increase the rate at which your body loses heat. This is particularly important during hiking, camping, Scout activities and other outdoor activities where you may be exposed to the weather for long periods. Understanding how wind…
Knowing how to prevent heat loss outdoors is an important part of staying safe and comfortable in cold weather. Whether you’re hiking, camping, taking part in a Scout activity or simply spending time outside, your body is constantly losing heat to its surroundings. In mild conditions this is usually nothing to worry about, but cold…
Staying warm outdoors isn’t simply about putting on more clothing or sitting next to a fire. Your body is constantly producing heat, but it is also constantly losing heat to the surrounding environment. Understanding how that happens makes it much easier to stay warm when camping, hiking, taking part in Scout activities or spending time…
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. ⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Wet clothing can become dangerous in cold, windy or exposed conditions. Water conducts heat away from the body much faster than dry air, and wind can…
