Take the test

1You've been hiking across snow in freezing conditions when one of your group feels unwell. Which of the following signs might indicate they are suffering from hypothermia?

A. They're shivering and their skin looks pale and dry.

B. They are warm and flushed.

C. They have a full or bounding pulse.

2If they are showing signs of hypothermia, which of these actions should you take?

A. Encourage them to lie on the ground and then raise (and support) their legs.

B. Take them indoors if possible and cover any wet clothing with a warm blanket.

C. Take them indoors if possible, protect them from the cold ground and replace any wet clothing with dry clothing.

3If a running companion complains of the following symptoms, what would you suspect? Dry mouth, headache, feeling lightheaded and urine that is darker than usual.

A. Asthma.

B. Hypothermia.

C. Dehydration.

4 You are taking part in a training exercise and one of your group slips on ice and sustains an open fracture to their leg. As a general rule, which of these should you not do?

A. Give the casualty water and high-energy food.

B. Cover the wound with a double layer of sterile dressings or clean padding and secure it with a bandage.

C. Immobilise the injured body part and arrange to transport the casualty to hospital.

5 Your group have been sheltering from the wind in freezing conditions. One of your party complains of pins and needles in their feet and thinks they might have frostbite. What is it?

A. A condition that occurs after a tick has bitten a person and become frozen beneath their skin.

B. When the tissues of the extremities – usually the fingers and toes – freeze due to low temperatures.

C. Stiffening of the ankle joint due to extreme cold weather.

1. A With hypothermia (when the body temperature falls below 35C), the blood supply to the superficial blood vessels in the skin shuts down to maintain the function of vital organs (such as the heart and brain) so shivering and pale, dry skin are key signs to look out for. Your fellow hiker may also have a slow pulse and their breathing could be slow and shallow.

2. C You should take the person with hypothermia to a sheltered place as quickly as possible and protect them from the cold ground. Remove and replace any wet clothing if possible, then dial 999 or 112 for help. Warm them by giving them warm drinks and high-energy foods such as chocolate while continuing to monitor their vital signs.

3. C Dehydration occurs when the amount of fluids lost from the body is not replaced adequately. This may lead to a dry mouth and dry eyes and cause headaches, dizziness, confusion, cramp and urine that's dark in colour. See our feature about hydration on Page 30.

4. A With any fracture you should not allow the casualty any food or drink because an anaesthetic might be needed.

Other things to avoid are moving the casualty before the injured part is secured and supported (unless they are in immediate danger) and, in the case of an open fracture, pressing directly on a protruding bone end.

5. B Frostbite occurs when the body's extremities freeze in low temperatures. It usually occurs in freezing or cold and windy conditions. People who cannot move around to increase their circulation are particularly susceptible.

Another sign of frostbite might be a change in the colour of their skin (first white and then mottled and blue). It can also be accompanied by hypothermia.

Capt Simon Chaplin, Gwent and Powys ACF County Duke of Edinburgh Award Officer

Memorable expeditions?

My best expedition was a trip in 2019 to Everest Base Camp in memory of my mother who had passed away. A special moment during that trip was sitting with my son (a cadet at the time) at the base camp for Ama Dablam. Our Sherpa cook had prepared us a lunch of fresh bread, garlic soup and lemon tea, which we shared while overlooking snowy mountains.

Another memorable moment was from an Army Cadets expedition, The Open Gold, which took place at Otterburn Camp last October. The group I was overseeing had to divert their route due to fallen trees in a forest so we missed each other for a checkpoint. I returned to my vehicle to find a note saying: ‘Don’t worry we R still alive’, which made me chuckle and showed they could cope with anything.

Favourite expedition/camp game?

A good game I've played with cadets to fill time at camp and help the team gel is 'truth and lie'. One cadet picks someone they don’t know in the team, then takes them somewhere the rest of the group can't hear their conversation and asks them for three statements about themselves: two that are true and one that's a lie. They then rejoin the team and introduce their new friend, giving the three bits of information, and the group has to decide which is the lie.

Lieutenant Gina Allsop, Sports Officer and Adventure Training Officer at Sussex ACF Memorable expeditions?

The first was DofE when I was 13, which gave me my first taste of adventure and freedom. The second was with the Army: I was in the Army ski team and went on the tour leaders’ course, where you go off-piste into back country. It was thrilling because we were going to places that people hadn’t been for weeks and cutting our own tracks. At one point we got avalanched in and had to build a snow hole to sleep in before we could get ourselves out (pictured). That was character-building stuff!

Essential kit?

If I’m doing a solo expedition, I always take my Garmin watch as it has all my maps and can also send a satellite signal if I fall or get stuck somewhere. I also take my phone, a spare pair of socks, a pack of cards and my favourite treat to boost energy levels and mood: a vegan "pork" pie.

Advice for cadets on their first expedition?

Enjoy it! It’ll be tough but it’ll also be amazing. You’ll get to meet new people and build connections. Pack your kit well in advance and do some short trial walks beforehand with it, so you can make sure it's comfortable.

Upcoming expeditions?

At the end of April I’m doing a Scotland 300, which starts with a 100-mile walk of the West Highland Way with all my full kit – on my own and unsupported. Then I’m jumping in a kayak

Gilly Moncur, SO3