proofs over light underwear. An extra shirt and pair of trousers 

 are a useful addition to the kit. As insurance against cold spells, 

 also include a sweater or warm jacket. Coastal regions usually 

 are colder than the interior and require warmer clothing than is 

 normally worn inland. 



Since most summer travel is over wet ground, the best foot gear 

 is the shoepac. Wear wool socks in summer as in winter and 

 carry spares so that the feet can be kept dry and clean. 



In all coastal areas of the Arctic and sub-Arctic, fog and rain 

 or wet snow are frequent during the summer. Here, rain suits 

 are highly desirable. In interior areas, wet-weather clothing is 

 less necessary. But even inland, a light rain or water-repellent 

 jacket will come in handy. 



USE AND CARE OF COLD WEATHER CLOTHING 



The body's method of heat control is automatic. It helps one 

 become accustomed to having a cold skin. It is an important way 

 of controlling heat loss, but the most important factor in protect- 

 ing the body from the cold is the manner in which protective 

 clothing is used. Take a lesson from the arctic partridge, or 

 ptarmigan ; he knows how to keep warm. His fluffy feathers hold 

 in many tiny pockets of dead air which slow down the escape of 

 heat from his body. By raising or lowering his feathers, he can 

 increase or decrease the amount of dead air around his body and 

 thus make himself warmer or cooler. A human can be as com- 

 fortable in winter as a ptarmigan if he uses his clothing properly. 

 On the other hand, if he underestimates the dangers of really 

 cold weather and fails to use his clothing and other personal 

 epuipment properly, he may lose a "hand or a foot or even freeze 

 to death. 



GENERAL PRECAUTIONS 



It is essential that every item of clothing fit properly. Each 

 must be loose fitting — and remember that all items will probably 

 shrink when washed. This is especially important around the 

 joints — shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees — in view of the fact 

 that pressure from the clothes will shut off the blood supply in 

 the skin area where it occurs, and will make that area much more 

 likely to freeze. However, if clothing is too large, air currents 

 will be set up which carry heat away from the body. Remember 

 that loosening the clothes is one easy way to cool off when a man 

 becomes too hot from working, and closing them warms him as 

 he grows cool. 



160 



