Winter Unit Test – Study Guide KEY
Frostbite, Hypothermia, Avalanches and Snow
Frostbite
1. What is the best treatment for frostbite? Warm water bath, 105-110 F
2. T or F Red, swollen, fluid-filled blisters are a good sign in frostbite.
3. T or F You should immediately try to re-warm a frozen limb. Leave frozen until the
limb can be properly rewarmed and danger of refreezing is past.
4. T or F Once your frozen body part is re-warmed, you can make a rapid recovery.
Frostbite may take months to heal and your body part will always be more prone to cold
injury.
5. T or F A good re-warming technique involves rubbing the frozen limb. Never rub a
frozen injury as it may cause tissue and cell damage.
Hypothermia
6. What three core areas of your body have priority for heat? Brain, heart, lungs
7. Name three negative cold factors that can lead to hypothermia. Improper clothing or
equipment; wetness; fatigue; dehydration; poor food intake; alcohol, cold temperatures
8. T or F
It must be below freezing temperatures to get hypothermia.
9. What is the first symptom of hypothermia? Shivering
10. What organ in your body is responsible for controlling temperature? hypothalamus
11. Name two ways your body tries to stay warm in cold exposure.
Shivering, and your body will take warm blood away from hands and feet to keep core warm
12. What is the best treatment for hypothermia? BE SPECIFIC! Warm fluids, high sugar food,
shelter from cold/wind/wet, apply heat packs to core, use warmed blankets or share body heat.
13. If using heat packs, WHERE should they be placed? Armpits, groin, neck
14. Describe the BEST way to dress in cold weather. Hat, gloves, scarf; dress in LAYERS
15. How can you avoid afterdrop? Warm the core first (not the hands and feet)
Avalanches
16. What angle is the most dangerous for snow pack avalanches? 35-42 (38 is most dangerous)
17. T or F Most avalanches are triggered by the victim.
18. T or F The weakest layer in a snow pack is hard. Soft, sugar snow is weakest
19. T or F
Avalanches are unpredictable and can happen anywhere. FALSE!
20. What is your best course of action if you are caught in an avalanche? Swim with the snow, protect
your airway (cover with your hand)
21. Name three triggers of avalanches. Vibrations, temperature changes, weight
Snow
23. T or F Different snowflakes form at different temperatures.
24. T or F Snow can be a good insulator. Many animals burrow under snow for warmth
25. T or F
It is never too cold to snow. All you need is water!
26.Draw and name two different types of snow flakes. See your computer lab notes
Definitions Be able to recognize the symptoms for the following:
a. Mild Hypothermia
b. Moderate Hypothermia
Mild shivering, feeling cold
Stop shivering, core temperature begins to drop rapidly
c. Severe Hypothermia
Victim may be unconscious, confused, near death
d. Superficial Frostbite
Cold, white and SOFT
e. Deep frostbite
f. Frostnip
Cold, white and HARD
Not frozen, very red
Short Answer: Name five things that should be in every Alaskan’s car trunk for safe winter
travel. Defend each thing you chose, that is, how would it be used, or how would it help.
Example: Matches – to start a fire
Essay: Write a 1- 2 paragraph story about hypothermia, snow, frostbite and avalanches.
Scenario You are far from camp and cannot easily get back. You come into contact with an
avalanche somehow (see below). Things to include in your story:


Previous and current weather conditions Was it snowing? Temperature? Most avalanches occur
after a heavy, wet snowfall (25-30 degrees outside)
What were you doing before the avalanche? (Snowboarding? Skiing? Snow machining?, etc.)

Where the avalanche occurred. Most avalanches happen on slopes of about 38 degrees. OR
Maybe you were on level ground at the base of such a slope.

What did you do to not become buried by the avalanche? Could you ski/snow machine/move
away from it? Did you “swim” in the avalanching snow? Did you cover your mouth and nose?
Did you try to hide behind an anchor (tree, rock?)? Did you just try to out-run it?

After you were buried, how were you rescued? Was part of your body visible above the snow?
Did you have an avalanche beacon? Did someone know where you were?

How did you manage to survive the cold scenario? Did you wear sufficient clothes in layers to
stay dry? Did you build a snow shelter? Did you have heat packs? Could you start a fire? Did
you bring survival equipment? (matches, food, water)

Finally, reflect back on what happened and how you could have made better choices. Reread
the above and think about what else you could have done to ensure your survival or avoidance of
the problems.
1.