By Heather Schroeder, Faculty Mentor
As a native Upper Midwesterner, moving to Tennessee in December 2010 was a big mindset shift. We experienced a blizzard that, to my winter-ready self, seemed like a garden-variety snowstorm. Everything shut down for a week, including the Oak Ridge National Laboratory where my husband worked.
On day one, I taught the neighborhood kids how to sled. On day two, we hopped in our car, drove out of our neighborhood, and realized that most everything was…closed. Oops. Welcome to Southern snow days!
It took me a few years to acclimate to snow days in Tennessee, but one thing that still troubles me is that Knoxvillians don’t know how to dress for the weather. I regularly have students come to class in really cold weather in a windbreaker and street shoes. Of course, they are shivering and miserable, and I worry that if their car were to break down on the way home, they could be in real danger.
As a result, I have developed the following list of tips for staying warm in cold weather. As soon as the weather turns chilly, I post the following in my Brightspace courses (with some additional information for this story’s sake):
As we enter the winter season, please remember the threefold rule for staying warm in the winter: core, head, and space.
Core
Keep your core warm (in truly cold weather, wear several lightweight, wicking layers on your torso), so your body’s natural heater can keep your extremities (hands, feet, facial features) warm. It’s not just me saying this. The British Red Cross says, “Wearing lots of layers rather than one thick piece of clothing will help trap your body heat and keep you warmer.”
The reason this matters is that our bodies engage in thermoregulation. The human body is designed to keep the body at approximately 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. A variety of factors impact your ability to thermoregulate. For example, older people and very young children don’t thermoregulate well, but athletes and people working outside tend to stay warm because moving your body raises your internal temperature.
More importantly, you might not even realize that you’re experiencing hypothermia, which is when “your body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing a dangerously low body temperature.” Prevention really is the best approach for staying safe in cold weather.
Head
Keep your head warm (wear a damn hat, people!) so that your brain stays toasty. Your body will work overtime to keep all that gray matter safe, so help your body get a jumpstart on its important work. Do keep in mind that if you have a thick head of hair–lots of curls, for example–you may not lose as much heat from your head, but remember that your body considers your brain a part of your core, even though it’s separate from your torso.
If looking fashionable is your worry, the world of headcoverings has improved a lot in the past decade. Balaclavas, whimsical beanies, or even a hoodie connected to your favorite sweatshirt will do a world of good for your most important organ.
Space
Finally, create an insulating layer of space between snug but not-too-tight wicking layers. Too tight clothing and excessive heavy layers are the enemy of warmth. Think of the blanket on your bed. The reason it keeps you warm is that your body generates heat, and the blanket traps the heat between your body and the blanket.
The same rule applies to your winter clothing, from head to toe. In fact, it’s easier to get frost-bitten toes by wearing two layers of socks (because they are so tight) than it is to wear one fluffy warm layer, preferably in wool, not cotton.
I’m personally partial to Smartwool or similar socks because they come in different weights and patterns, but anything with a high wool content will keep your toes toasty warm.
Get Some Boots
Oh, and on that point, don’t be cheap. Get some damn winter boots! If you don’t have them right now, use my tips above to help keep your feet warm in whatever shoes you have. If you tend toward sweaty feet, keep a second pair of socks in your car so that you can change them if needed. Wet feet are chilly feet!
Remember, if your feet get wet, you can get frostbitten in really cold weather. It doesn’t take long to nip your toes, and thawing them burns like fire. Better to keep them warm than to let them get bitterly cold.
I’m a big fan of Santana and Kamik brand boots, but they are expensive. I don’t think Uggs are that warm in cold-cold weather, but some people swear by them. My very bad weather boots are made by Sorel and have a removable felt pac that I can dry when they get wet. They go up to my knees. They are not fashionable, but I’ve never been frostbitten in all of my 50+ years.
Finally, If You Can, Enjoy Your Staycation!
If I had a dollar for every time I saw an East Tennessean out in cold weather without a proper jacket and proper footwear, I could retire from teaching. Since the dollars aren’t rolling in yet, I implore you to please bundle up and stay safe if you have to venture out in wicked weather. Make sure your phone is charged and that you have a blanket in your car. Fill your gas tank, and carry a water bottle with you. Tell someone where you’re headed.
Better yet, during these big snowstorms and the ensuing winter weather chaos, the very best way to stay safe is to stay home. Make your weather-enforced downtime a relaxing staycation. Cuddle up on the couch with loved ones and pets to watch a movie. Grab a good book and read. Bake a cake and enjoy it with a cup of tea. Play a game with your family members or roommates. Start and finish a jigsaw puzzle. The list of nervous-system soothing activities is long, and you need only choose one to get started.
Think of bad weather days as the universe’s way of saying, “Slow down, friend. You’ve got the time.”
