To tell you not to run around if caught in snow- exercise cools you down

[Nimbostratus100]

I am quite alarmed at the level of ignorance shown about this, so just in case anyone here gets caught in snow today

Please don't exercise to warm up - or tell your children to - this cools you down and leaves you vulnerable to hypothermia

Insulate yourself as well as you can, and huddle as close together as you can instead.

Sorry wrong brackets round link - try again!

www.rigb.org/explore-science/explore/video/back-brink-peak-performance-2007

Surely you recall when all those people got stuck overnight in snow in the M11 a few years back that the first thing they all started doing was an aerobics class on the hard shoulder? Fools, I said so at the time .

Completely agree with this.

I recognise OP's username, I've noticed recently that they've started posting some batshit stuff and really arguing with people if anyone dares to disagree or question it

There is an element of truth in what @Nimbostratus100 posts - but what is described is applicable to extreme situations, not the light dusting of snow being experienced across the UK today. It also applies to other wintery conditions such as extreme frost and wind-chill, when no snow is present.

As someone who lives in the mountains where there is regularly several feet of snowfall - sometimes as quickly as overnight - there are other things to consider before reaching the situation that the OP describes.

Firstly - don't get caught in the snow! Listen to the forecasts and if the advice is to remain at home or not travel or not go outside, then stay where you are.

Secondly - be prepared. When it snows here, even if the forecast is for light snowfall and little danger of snowdrifts, blocked roads etc. then people don't set off without having a flask of coffee, a bottle of water, food and energy bars etc. in the car or in their backpack in case of unexpected delays or breakdowns.

Thirdly, if you have gone out and subsequently "get caught in the snow" then seek shelter immediately. Get out of the cold, wet environment and into somewhere sheltered. Don't leave your car unless its in a dangerous position. Get into any shelter available.

After that, we're into survival territory, where the OP's advice is relevant. Don't run around outside; do huddle together for warmth; do dig or build a snow shelter etc. Valuable skills on an alpine mountain or in the wilds of Canada or Alaska. Not so relevant in Surbiton but maybe more relevant in the Highlands, Peak District or Pennines - but see item one and don't venture out if there is a chance you might get caught in the snow.

I'm sorry, but this is just bollocks.

Your body generates heat as a consequence of exercise. This is a fact.

I'm sorry, but this is just bollocks.

It isn’t bollocks, it’s just not applicable to the UK 99.9% of the time.

Down the park, getting caught in a snowfall walking home from the shop, exercise/moving will keep you warm for the time you need to until you get home. Going for a run in a bit of snow will not result in hypothermia. People donnt die of hypothermia playing snowballs or building a snowman in the park.

if your car breaks down on snake pass in - temps you aren’t going to be able to generate enough heat for a prolonged period of time until
rescue. So the aim in that case is to preserve heat- stay in the car, find blankets, coat, sit closely with other people to heat the immediate layer of air and keep it in with coverings.

surely that’s common sense and warnings about dying from hypothermia from running in the park are clearly ridiculous?

It is bollocks.

Exercise doesn't "cool you down".

Utter fucking shite.

"When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Exercising in cold, rainy weather increases the risk of hypothermia. Older adults and young children are at greater risk."
Mayo Clinic.org/fitness

I did a quick google search and found this.

Surely most people know not to go out in the freezing pissing rain or snow, get soaking wet clearly being dressed inappropriately, and expect to keep warm?

that’s nothing to do with exercise cooling you down, of course you increase the risk of hypothermia going out to exercise in those conditions.

That, obviously, is a consequence of being outdoors in cold, rainy weather.

When you move, especially enough to get your heart rate up, you generate heat. This is basic biology.

When I exercise I sweat as I'm warm, so my body tries to cool me down.

After exercise if I don't shower and change asap, then I get extremely cold.

Whilst I'm exercising I'm fine

Yeah that mayo clinic quote appears to be saying that "cold weather cools you down". No shit, mayo clinic.

It really depends on the situation. I live in Sweden and were I grew up we have minus 15 to minus 25 from November to end of March roughly, and I would die of hypothermia if I went outside and just stood still in the garden for a couple of hours, however if I instead went cross country skiing for a couple of hours I would be warm and fine. I would feel cold when I came home or stopped exercising though. If you are stranded a 30 minute walk from home you are better off walking home than huddling close together by the car.

As I sea in a town by the sea k do not get "caught in snow" in 49 years of living in Britain I've never been caught in fact because we simply don't have much snow.

The best health advice for travelling in snowy conditions is to carry emergency supplies including foil blankets, water and food. A small power bank is a good idea too.

When I exercise I definitely get warmer though!

There's probably a difference of perception.

Heavy exercise leading you to sweat will cool you down. Which counteracts the benefits of movement.

But lighter exercise, getting you moving, will keep blood moving around the body - yes brings it to the surface which is cold but you need that heat generated by moderate movement. As well as keeping blood flowing to extremities.

What is probaby more adviable if caught out, is to try and stay dry if you can, wet clothes will chill you far faster than dry.

seek shelter, stay dry

Wearing proper clothing is more inorganic though - layers, with waterproof and wind proof outer layer but that allows any sweat to escape, wearing a hat, preferably wearing no gloves, not getting wet feet, etc - are more important than exercise.

@Snoken

Well put.

People generally feel cold after exercise for 2 reasons:

1. They are still wearing damp, sweaty clothes, which generally isn't a problem if the weather is that cold as the body won't produce that much sweat compared to going out on a hot day. To solve this, you just change clothes or you wear clothing designed to wick sweat away from your skin.

2. They haven't cooled down properly and have just come from a cold environment with an elevated HR to a warm environment with their HR dropping rapidly.

Fundamentally - as the OP tried to claim - the body absolutely does not "cool" to a temperature lower than a body's usual resting temperature as a result of exercise.

Must be. All this ‘don’t run around’ is just jealousy because of her three-inch penguin legs.

As a former science teacher, these kinds of threads demonstrate why teaching is an utterly pointless profession at this point.

It's kind of arguable, although not sure what the OP actually means.

When I was running I used to go out in all weathers with just a t-shirt, flimsy running gear. I could run in freezing rain, snow, the lot.

The issue becomes if you have to stop for any reason, injury or other. Then you will freeze. I was injured once, but that was in summer. If it had happened at night in the winter in freezing rain I would have had to knock on someones door to phone for a taxi because there would have been no way to get back without freezing to death. Maybe sensibly (?!) I never used to run out in the freezing cold when there were no people/houses around, always round the suburbs where there was a place to go for help if things went wrong.

Then the advice would surely be “dress appropriately for snow” not “if you’re stuck in snow, stay still”. OP’s “logic” (or lack thereof) was clearly explained…and entirely incorrect.