Melting Snow for Survival
If you run out of drinking water, you may need to depend on the snow in your surroundings to remain hydrated. It is highly advised that you do not consume the snow or ice directly by sucking or chewing it. Dirt, chemicals, environmental pollutants, animal excrement, and other substances might be present in snow and ice. We must assess the quality of the resulting “melt water” and the potential impact it may have on us if it isn’t treated.
Are you aware of effective methods to melt snow for immediate use? Living in the freezing northern states could put you in a winter survival scenario, and it is prudent to have family training plans in place.
Many individuals are unaware of the crucial significance of water and access to safe drinking water. Thus, we have provided several suggestions on how to effectively melt snow, particularly in emergency situations.
Boiling Snow
Learning how to boil snow is an essential survival skill that most people should know as it is the most efficient means of melting snow. Apart from that, this technique also aids in eliminating any bacteria that may exist in the snow.
As long as there is snow to be found, dehydration can be easily avoided with only a fire and a cooking pot at hand.
While having a camping stove would be ideal, it is not mandatory as a fire pit would suffice.
To begin, add a modest quantity of snow to the pot while it’s positioned above the flames. Gradually add more snow as it starts to liquefy, taking care not to include an excessive quantity that would cause it to spill over the pot’s edge or for the pot to tilt or sink into the fire.
To avoid water wastage, it’s crucial to prevent water from overflowing. Additionally, keeping the lid on the pot while boiling snow helps to maintain heat, resulting in faster melting. The Farberware 4-Quart pans with lids are highly recommended for this purpose.
Use Warm Heat that’s Nearby
While you might assume that a pillowcase serves the sole purpose of covering a pillow, it can also double as a filter. To utilize it in this way, simply stuff it with snow or ice and attach it to a nearby low-lying branch. Just remember not to position it directly over your fire.
Position a container, such as a pot or sizable bowl, beneath the pillowcase to collect the liquid. Within half an hour, you can obtain around one quart of potable water.
If you decide to utilize a mosquito head net to assist with water drainage, exercise caution in ensuring it is not placed too close to fire as it is made of nylon and is susceptible to melting. This method is preferred by certain survivalists.
You may use a plastic or cloth sack, including a black garbage bag, to gather snow. However, it is important to remember that plastic will trap melted snow. It is not safe to cover plastic directly with any source of heat.
Not only can all of these devices assist in melting ice or snow, some may also function as a slight filter to capture any dirt or debris that has collected within the ice or snow.
Hot Water
If you carry a flask of hot water and an additional container, melting snow to use as drinking water can be done with ease. Begin by placing a handful of snow into your empty water bottle or insulated container, and then add a splash of hot water. Repeat this process until the container is fully filled. For further guidance, check out the article on How To Use A Kelly Kettle if you overlooked it.
When indications of dehydration emerge, consuming liquid snow can be an effective way to rapidly replenish your body with vital fluids. Despite its small size, a small quantity of snow is surprisingly refreshing when ingested as a liquid, providing much-needed relief.
Rely on Solar Heat
Despite being a longer process compared to the previous two, this approach is still highly efficient. It can work even on cold winter days, as long as there is ample sunshine available. Begin by collecting snow in a garbage bag and position it in a warm location with direct sunlight.
When you leave the container in place while you attend to your daily activities, you’ll be amazed at the amount of water you’ve accumulated upon returning.
You may be considering that carrying a trash bag filled with water is not the most convenient option, and I concur. Opting for transparent sandwich bags or bigger Ziploc bags would be a more practical choice as they are lighter and easier to transport.
Passive Melting
It’s fine if you don’t have access to a campfire. Even though melting snow with solar heat is a passive approach, there’s an alternative you can explore. It’s a technique you can use when you’re outdoors, hiking or running errands.
You can begin by placing a small quantity of water at the bottom of your flask. This will accelerate the melting of snow. Later, you may add some snow and let it swish around while you walk.
Continue on for a short distance and then include additional snow in your water bottle. Keep doing this repeatedly until you attain the volume of liquid you want in your water bottle.
Avoid Sucking on Snow and Ice
Being in a crucial survival scenario, you definitely shouldn’t rely on consuming snow or ice to remain hydrated as it would have an adverse effect.
It is important to avoid applying ice directly on your body as it may lower your core body temperature. This can be particularly hazardous if you are forced to spend several cold winter nights outside. Therefore, it is essential to adhere to these guidelines to prevent further harm caused by the frigid temperature.
Dealing with hypothermia during an emergency is something that you definitely want to avoid. Surprisingly, consuming snow and ice can cause dehydration in your body.
It is advisable to boil or melt snow before consuming it to avoid any possible dangers. Additionally, when exposed to extremely low temperatures, there is a possibility of experiencing frostbite, so it is necessary to take adequate preventative measures. Your body heat can be sufficient to keep you warm, but wearing multiple layers of clothing can provide better protection. For outdoor activities, each piece of clothing offers an additional layer of defense. When undertaking physically demanding tasks such as shoveling snow or freeing a trapped car, one should exercise caution.
Personal Hygiene
During a survival scenario, such as an SHTF event, when your utilities are disrupted while you’re at home, you may utilize melted snow to obtain a bucket of water to flush your toilet.
By utilizing snow as a means to flush your toilet, you can preserve the water you have stored for consumption and culinary purposes.
When it comes to conserving water, grey water, which is the water thrown out after doing laundry or washing dishes, can be ideal. Therefore, in those situations, it is crucial to minimize water wastage.
Physical Injuries
In a survival scenario, it may not be possible for you to obtain the necessary first aid materials if you sustain an injury or fall ill.
In order to decrease inflammation and accelerate the recovery of a sprain or fracture, create a cold compress by enveloping snow in any available material such as a shirt, plastic bag, or tarp. Apply the cold compress intermittently to the affected area, for instance every other hour in intervals of twenty minutes.
Starting the healing process may depend on the ability to apply ice to an injury within the first 72 hours.
Avoid placing snow or ice in direct contact with the skin as it may lead to skin damage and complicate the injury.
To temporarily reduce body temperature during a high fever, create a cold compress using snow and apply it to the forehead or back of the neck.
In a survival scenario, snow can be utilized for numbing open, sizable wounds prior to any incision or stitching.
To Delay Hypothermia
If you’re in a survival situation then something happened to get you there. In the event of falling through ice into cold water you can use snow to keep you somewhat shielded from the wind.
After you have gotten out of the water, you can rub your body with snow to remove some of the moisture from your attire.
By freezing the outer layer of clothing, a sturdy barrier against the cold winter winds is formed and will provide protection. Falling into water is perilous due to the wind’s ability to snatch body heat. This solution is short-lived and should be used until returning to society or starting a fire.
Is melted snow drinkable?
Provided that it undergoes proper filtration and purification process, melted snow is fit for consumption. To avoid getting ill from the impurities present in snow, it is vital to subject the water to diverse treatments like boiling or the use of halazone tablets and unscented bleach before consumption.
In previous posts, I have recommended certain items that can aid in filtration. The Big Berkey water filtration lines are available in different sizes and have demonstrated efficacy in various settings. These products excel at filtering melted snow or ice, as well as surface water.
I have also covered a product from PortaWell which differs from Big Berkey by using a battery-operated device instead of a gravity-fed system. This filtering system has the ability to produce as much as 60 gallons of filtered water per hour. There is an assortment of filter options available to improve water quality at varying levels.
Is boiled melted snow safe to drink?
The question remains unanswered. There are those who hold the belief that melted snow, after being boiled, can be consumed safely since the boiling eliminates any dangerous microbes or impurities present in the water.
On the other hand, some suggest that it is safer to exercise care and eliminate any contaminants from the water before consumption, despite boiling it. Though any amount of water is preferable to none, purifying and filtering the water as explained previously grants a sense of ease and assurance as one strives to safeguard their loved ones.
Before attempting to clean any open wounds of your family members using the melted water, ensure that it has been properly treated to avoid introducing bacteria into the wounds. The aim is to ensure that all your family members survive, regardless of the challenges they may be facing.
What is a good survival strategy if you are stranded in snow?
Survival strategies vary depending on individual requirements and preferences, making it impossible to have a single foolproof approach. Nevertheless, there are general guidelines such as preparing additional provisions of food and water, constructing a shelter to maintain warmth, and staying updated on weather forecasts. Furthermore, it’s crucial to bring spare clothes as well as a means of communication. For more detailed tips, take a look at my listed archives.
It’s important for us to remain vigilant and ready for potential hazards or crises, as well as be knowledgeable about fundamental first aid methods.
Furthermore, it can be beneficial to acquire fundamental wilderness survival abilities, like constructing a fire or locating potable water sources in a natural habitat.
