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Posted by rexim on January 22, 2008 at 11:38:54 pm EST
In reply to Re: Perils of Winter posted by calamity on January 22, 2008 at 9:09:08 pm EST

Calamity,

Who's attacking the NWS?

If you read the link I supplied, you might notice that the numbers I cited also came from the NWS, as well as the National Centers for Disease Control and various state agencies.

Thus, it's not the source but your use of the numbers I question. The stats you supplied did not mention drunks, or psychotic homeless people, or even outdoor recreation, yet you jumpstart argument by excluding drunks and psychotics and the destitute elderly and then stating that outdoor recreation presents no risk of hypothermia.

If you have so much respect for the NWS, note this quote:

"You don't have to have a blizzard or big winter storm or high winds to have exposure effects," said Nancy Godon, a senior meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Grand Forks. "When you get out and start walking, it's a disaster waiting to happen because you lose orientation and visibility."

How do you square "disaster waiting to happen" with "no risk of hypothermia?" And who should we believe, Calamity or a senior meteorologist for the NWS?

I think you're both wrong.

Quite simply, while there may be little risk of death from hypothermia in the ordinary course of outdoor recreation, there is a definite risk of hypothermia every time you venture outdoors for any length of time in the winter. That's why people wear base layers and insulating layers and all the other layers they wear: to prevent hypothermia. If there were no risk of hypothermia, we would not need to spend all this money on warm clothing.

Finally, where did this common sense come from? Probably from parents with vast experience wearing mittens telling their kids to wear their mittens.

Now, don't forget to wear your earmuffs....

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