When Mother Nature saw fit to dump eight plus inches of winter sunshine on us last week I wasn’t ready. An example was the bag or two of leaves I’d pulled out of our flowerbeds in hopes that they’d dry a bit before I put them in those bags and then on the curb for pickup. But what I did remember as I shoveled away my miscalculations is that there is a winter ritual that I hadn’t begun either.

   The first part of that ritual involves the placement of six forty pound blocks in the back of my pickup, three on each side, to help combat the ice that always forms on most of the roads I drive. This doesn’t take the place of slowing down and being careful but it does help with the traction. Four more blocks in the Impala and I feel safer whether I am or not.

   The next and more involved of my ritual goes something like this: Since I am an ice fisherman, I take some time visiting those bodies of water I regularly visit each winter. Obviously the ice has only just begun to form in southern Michigan, so I have a little time before getting out on it. But it’s only a matter of time. Four inches of surface ice is what I feel comfortable on even if many of my fellow hard water enthusiasts think three or even two is adequate. I like four because most bodies of water do not freeze to a uniform thickness until a little winter weather has worked on that ice. If some anglers laugh at my precautions, so be it. They can have the few extra fish they catch while I’m being careful.

   Avoiding hypothermia is another part of my wintertime ritual. Whether it’s from inadequate clothing while ice fishing or from being outside doing any kind of activity, the right clothing can make the difference between comfort and what could be a serious problem. Most body heat loss occurs in the extremities so boots, mittens (not gloves) and headgear need to be of primary concern. These items need to be important in preventing hypothermia and should be a regular part of our winter outdoor clothing and as important as coats and pants.

   So just what is hypothermia and how can you tell if you have suffered from it?

   “Any time weather causes the core body temperature to deviate a few degrees from normal (98.6), medical” authorities say, “a person’s health, perhaps even his life, may be at risk. In summer, the danger is measured by the heat stress index; in winter, the wind chill index.”

   Guidelines for the presence of hypothermia may begin with the sensation of being cold, goose bumps, mild to severe shivering, and numb, stiffened hands. The victim could reduce heat loss by putting on additional clothing and/or dry clothing, increasing physical activity, consuming high-energy food and/or seeking shelter.

   But “the condition is often insidious—a gradual loss of mental acuity and a physical ability occurs, and the victim may not realize that he or she has slipped into a condition that requires emergency medical treatment.” Being outside with a companion should help.

   “Avoid consuming alcohol—it accelerates peripheral body heat loss. Avoid smoking—it constricts blood vessels carrying warmth to the skin. And avoid drinks containing caffeine—they increase water loss and dehydration, which can contribute to hypothermia.”

   Instead, consume sugars and proteins. Hot, sugary drinks such as apple cider and sweetened decaffeinated tea or coffee are great.

   Make preparations (a ritualistic list) for winter activities, fishing and otherwise, and enjoy Michigan winters to the fullest—right after you finish all your shoveling!