Snow is one of the most recognizable meteorological conditions. For some parts of the planet, it is a component of everyday reality that is either bothersome when older or fun and exciting for the younger. Yet, even in the urban environment, where safety and shelter are all around, everyone can recognize the sheer power of snow as a natural phenomenon. In a survival situation, this power is elevated to a staggering point and here, snow makes the difference between life and death. Often, people tend to think that snow is simply a problem that makes any survival situation much worse.
Yet, thousands of years of wilderness survival experience have also shown that snow can be a huge ally when used properly. This means that with the right knowledge and experience, a person in a survival setup can use the properties of snow to ensure their eventual rescue. Usually, people do not know half of these and this is a big missed opportunity for being prepared for the wilderness and survival. Here are the key uses for snow in a survival situation and ways how anyone can use it to help them stay alive in the wilderness.
1. Build a Shelter
Snow and ice are great building materials. In many parts of the world where snow is constant, like in the polar circle, locals created entire cultures based on the notion of living in ice and snow shelters. The Canadian Inuit tribes are a good example. In a survival situation, a person does not have the tools and the time to make a full igloo but they can still dig a hole in the snow and make a makeshift shelter or build one under a tree. There, they will be protected from the wind chill and blizzards, while the space in the snow offers an impressive level of protection from the elements.
2. Drinking water
Snow and ice should never be taken directly in a survival situation because they can dangerously lower the core temperature of a body. But, uses for snow in a survival situation definitely include drinking water. It should be melted using a fire where a small amount of snow can be transformed into drinkable water. If no fire is present, a dark-colored stone can be used as a source of heat that can melt a bit of snow in a metal cup when placed in direct sunlight. If a person is properly clothed and not cold, a bit of snow can be even melted in a plastic bag that is carried between the person’s body and their jacket. The body’s heat will be able to melt small amounts of snow and risk no dropping of the core temperature.
3. Injuries
Snow can help with many injuries that can occur in a survival setup and especially when no first aid kit is available. It can reduce swelling of an injury like a break or a sprain when it is compressed into a cold package and left on the injured part of the body. If the cold compress is used on an injury in the first crucial 72 hours, it will be able to hasten up the healing process substantially.
4. Insulation
When thinking about uses for snow in a survival situation, many tend to forget that it is very effective for insulation. Using about 10 inches of snow is as using fiberglass insulation that is six inches thick. In an emergency, the best use of this property is by building a bed in the snow. In it, a person can find a lot more protection from the elements than by sleeping on the ground, for example.
5. Personal Hygiene
Snow is essential for survival situations which take place when a person has access to a building, like a cottage or even a regular home. Here, snow should be used instead of drinking water to do anything from flushing a toilet to bathing. Instead of risking the supply of fresh water, snow can be melted more or less to a point where it is useful for personal hygiene. This way, the person who finds itself in an emergency situation can both conserve water and energy to get useful water for their hygienic needs.
6. Preserve food
The cold that the snow provides is a fantastic means of preserving food. In the temperatures that are below freezing, no bacteria can attack a piece of food, no matter how it was prepared. At the same time, deep freezing something means that it can be used after as much time as necessary – the food will still stay good. This is why with enough snow, no one has to worry that they will have a problem with spoiled food. All that is needed is some kind of metal, wood or plastic container that would hold the food. Once it is placed inside of the snow it will literally become a natural freezer.
7. Start a fire with ice
This might sound like an insane part of the uses for snow in a survival situation list, but it is completely true. A person should find a piece of ice that is as clear and see-through as possible. A big chunk of it should be cut or broken off and then slowly made into a lens-like shape using the warmth of the person’s hands. Once done, the ice lens will behave just like any other glass or plastic lens out there. This trick can be a lifesaver in a survival situation.
8. Tracking animals
Animals need to move in the wilderness and snowfall usually does not stop any of them. However, it allows a person who is in a need for food to track them. By following the footprints they leave, a person can find a sheltered spot and wait for the next animal to come along. At that point, the animal could be killed and used for food.
9. Signal rescuers (draw SOS)
The presence of snow is actually an excellent way to attract attention when it comes to those looking from above. When a person is being searched for using a helicopter or a low-flying airplane, there are two ways to attract attention. First one is to place some type of dark material like rocks and logs on a flat surface covered with snow. The other includes employing a colored liquid, like water with food coloring on the snow to write down SOS or the letter X. The whiteness of the snow will make both of these become clearly visible from the air.
With these uses for snow in a survival situation any person has a lot better chance of both surviving in the cold environment and eventually finding a way out of it somehow.
