Anyone heading for the hills in winter should avoid wearing cotton, experts said. Photo: MCofS
Mountain experts have warned winter hillgoers that cotton can kill.
Wearing clothes made of cotton can increase the risk of succumbing to hypothermia, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland said.
The chance of developing hypothermia can significantly increase when wearing the material, the council’s mountain safety advisor Heather Morning explained. She said: “Each winter people die of exposure and hypothermia in the Scottish mountains.
“When cotton clothing gets wet, whether through rain, snow-melt or perspiration, it provides no insulation and will quickly cool the skin.
“Outdoor clothing manufacturers produce their garments from either man-made synthetic fabrics or wool, which wick moisture away from the skin and retain warmth even when wet or damp.”
Ms Morning, who has been a professional mountaineer for 20 years and for the past 12 has been an active member of the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, said food was also an important factor in avoiding hypothermia.
She said: “The human body is a bit like a car: it needs to have enough fuel, of the right sort, to run efficiently.
Heather Morning: 'the body needs fuel too'
“Carbohydrates of both the slow- and quick-release varieties are best for fuelling a day on the hill. A great start would be a substantial bowl of porridge, topped up with quick and easy-to-eat fuel throughout the day such as mini pork pies, tablet, chocolate and sugary sweets.
“Keep your snacks easily accessible as it is unlikely that you will have the luxury of ‘stopping for lunch’ as you would in summer conditions, because when you stop you get cold very quickly.
“If you do stop then ensure that you add an extra layer, otherwise within minutes your body will start to cool.”
More information on hypothermia is available on the MCofS website.
Mick
21 January 2014What about the heart attack brought on by all those mini pork pies and chocolate?
Mark
22 January 2014Wearing excess clothing of any material will cause you to over heat. If you sweat and then that moister cools you are at danger of rapidly losing body heat. That could lead lead to hypothermia.
A bit of hyperbol going on here.
Margaret
22 January 2014Its long been known that cotton is not great and that an old, thin wooly jumper next to the skin worked well - funny how old wool ideas return but more expensively!
However, that was at a time when most hill clothing was old cast-offs and when there were only 2 shops in Scotland that sold any sort of climbing gear.
Debbie
22 January 2014I always find if I just eat porridge for breakfast I get a sugar low by mid-morning. However, I make my own (well, Crank's) granola, which is basically oats, wheat germ, nuts, seeds mixed with some olive oil and water and shoved in the oven for 30 mins. I then add dried fruit when cool and store it. A bowlful with milk for breakfast is THE greatest way to start the day. I never get low on energy in the first session of the day if I have eaten this.
Cynic
22 January 2014"A great start would be a substantial bowl of porridge, topped up with quick and easy-to-eat fuel throughout the day such as mini pork pies, tablet, chocolate and sugary sweets."
porridge, mini pork pies, tablet, sugary sweets etc
all available at your local scottish store
this hypothermia info was brought to you by the advertising council of scotland
M Yirrell
26 January 2014I used to have great woollen trousers & shirts for winter walking. Sadly such are now so expensive as to be out of price range.