If I were still a kid, I’d embrace the concept of eating snow for survival the instant I heard of it. I can still remember that as a bright-eyed 9-year-old, I wasted no time in popping fresh snow like candies every time I went to winter wonderland, and so many of my friends would do the same. To us, I was a reward for all the hard work involved in digging tunnels, sledding, constructing snowmen & having snowball fights.
Since I grew up, though, that thought appears strange to me, and to most of my friends too — I assume. However, there are some new stories going about eating snow for survival. And I honestly feel nostalgic. But should we eat snow for survival? Let’s see.
Is Eating Snow for Survival Healthy?
Your body is mostly water, which you lose all the time through bodily processes, such as sweating, breathing & waste removal. Staying hydrated is, therefore, a vital aspect of remaining functional.
However, when SHTF, taking a lot of water can be tricky. Being surrounded by snow won’t help much. You’re like a man lost at sea — a lot of water around, but not healthy enough to drink directly.
Are You Hydrated or Dehydrated When You Eat snow?
There is no mincing word here: eating snow can only dehydrate your body. Crazy, right? I mean, snow is “obviously” frozen water.
But, hey, bad news: snow contains far less water than you’ve believed your whole life. In fact, snow is basically air with little water in it. Plus, you can see that snow is cold, and your body is constantly trying to keep your body temp at the normal degree. Eating snow will only worsen the fight your body is facing & will most likely result in hypothermia.
This explains why your body enters overdrive in cold conditions. It is using most of your energy to maintain warmth. When you eat something as cold as snow, you make things worse & that plan of putting it all asunder before getting a solution may be cool in an Avenger movie, but it isn’t when your life is in the balance.
Dangers of Eating Snow for Survival
Whether eating snow for survival or ordinarily, there are some potential harms associated with it. First off, white snow is not 100% safe, but it is still better than the yellow snow made by passing animals.
Regardless of the snow though, note that eating large amounts of snow can cause:
- Dehydration;
- Hypothermia;
- Sores on your lips;
- Sores inside the mouth;
- Sickness from impure snow.
Keep in mind that dehydration is worse than you think. In an SHTF scenario, there is a high likelihood that you don’t have a good water supply and would have to melt snow to drink to quench your thirst. If you eat snow, you’ll merely be making things harder for yourself. I am emphasizing this, so you don’t make the error of eating snow since “dehydration is nothing to deal with.”
Final Thoughts — So, Eating Snow for Survival?
Apparently, eating snow for survival is wrong. The best thing you can do with snow is melt to drink, and make sure the water is warm when you drink it. You can also build a shelter in it & seek out animals to hunt. But eating this white cluster is a no-no for survival.