Survival in the Cold Old West
Surviving frostbite and snow blindness in freezing conditions.
By: Dr. Jim Kornberg 05/01/2009
Not too long ago, patients without a pulse and with core temperatures below 85°F were thought to have died. Today, these patients, sometimes having been submerged in icy water, can often be resuscitated using advanced methods of rewarming in the hospital setting.
In the mountain and high plains climates of the Old West, injury and death from cold air, snow and icy waters were always a great risk to the pioneers who were willing to take the chance of overexposure. All things considered, the heroic ride of “Portuguese” Phillips had a happy ending. He braved the deadly conditions of the northern Wyoming winter and came out alive, perhaps, even with 10 fingers and 10 toes. His poor horse was not so fortunate; it died shortly after Phillips arrived at Fort Laramie, in present-day Wyoming.
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