 Poster: A snowHead
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 Scientists from Indiana University in Indianapolis have debunked the myth that most of our body heat is lost from our heads. They traced the origins of this advice to a US army survival manual from 1970. It strongly recommended covering the head when it is cold, since "40% to 45% of body heat" is lost from the head. According to the scientists, if this were true, humans would be just as cold if they went without trousers. The myth is thought to have arisen through a flawed interpretation of a vaguely scientific experiment by the US military in the 1950s, in which volunteers were dressed in Arctic survival suits but with nothing on their heads and exposed to bitterly cold conditions....Because it was the only part of their bodies left uncovered, most of their heat was lost through their heads. If the experiment had been performed with people wearing only swimming trunks, they would have lost no more than 10% of their body heat through their heads.
The research was published in the British Medical Journal this week.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/dec/17/medicalresearch-humanbehaviour
Abstact: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/337/dec17_2/a2769
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I have started to wear a tie just to nip out to the shops now. If I have scarf , I figure I may as well seal all draughts around my neck.
Flat cap as well and a sheepskin coat.
I may even start wearing my merino thermals to football. I had two pair of socks on last time. Cold seems to travel up from the concrete.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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More heat is lost from the neck than the head.
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| el Hen wrote: |
| If the experiment had been performed with people wearing only swimming trunks, they would have lost no more than 10% of their body heat through their heads. |
Thermal swimming trunks would, of course, increase that percentage.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Does it take into account the amount of hot air an individual emits from their head?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Whitegold wrote: |
| More heat is lost from the neck than the head. |
I suggest a thermal condom.
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laundryman, yes, if it's very cold, it shrinks.
But warming it up doesn't make it bigger than normal  .
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This is old news. I'm pretty sure that I read this in the Mythconceptions in Fortean Times about a year ago.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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First time I've ever heard the 45% claim, sounds like a straw man argument to me. I've heard 25% from hands and head. I'll go and RTFA now.
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I remember hearing about these big percentages back in the Seventies, despite the relatively small surface area of the head, and it was said to be partly because a relatively large amount of blood circulates in the head (don't know if this true).
I think the salient points are:
1. The advice was never given (as I recall) on the express assumption of 'the rest of the body being naked'. Therefore there was always the ambiguity that maybe the body below the head should be assumed clothed, maybe not. Various percentages were bandied about in the ski community for heat loss from the head: 25%, 30% 40% etc.
2. The most important point, myth or no myth, was that you could reduce general heat loss of the body by covering the head well. You would experience less numbing to the fingers and toes etc.
So, whatever the truth/myth, the advice to cover the head and ears with a well-designed wool hat (or to be carrying one) remains sound guidance if there's a risk of chilling down. Presumably. And a possible life-saver if you get into serious trouble and are exposed to potential hypothermia on the mountain.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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David Goldsmith, My mum always quotes 50% of total heat lost being from head at me, and I (trained thermodynamicist that I am) always retorted "I really don't think so". I always reckoned your circulation, etc. argument to be true. so I am quite gratified to be vindicated.
That said, on bitter ski days now, while I still loathe full headwear, I can't stand getting my ears cold, so 70's pornstar headbands have become personally de rigeur. My ears didn't used to get so cold 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Too itchy, and gets too wet.
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You know it makes sense.
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stanton, amazing film! (My father learned how to ski with the Schneider brothers around that time.)
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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the reporting of this new research drives me batty as it is this new research rather than the old research that is missing the salient point here...
yes if i go skiing in swimming trunks (  ) i will only lose 10% of my body heat through my head. However, i generally wear clothes when i go skiing, therefore the 40% heat loss through my head figure still stands.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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What about this poor lass then? No hat and I'm not sure it was a thermal swimming thong!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I wonder what insulating effect a good thatch and a full beard have, versus a clean-shaven baldy.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
I wander (sic) what insulating effect a good thatch and a full beard have, versus a clean-shaven baldy?
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Quite a lot, having travelled almost from one extreme to the other. From memory, I think it was found that the hair reduces heat loss from the head by about 25%, but it can be comparatively more in windy conditions.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| WayneC wrote: |
What about this poor lass then? No hat and I'm not sure it was a thermal swimming thong!
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I want one!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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It's all to do with Lv (and wind chill exagerates). Exposed skin, especially covering core organs, is where the most heat is going to be lost. Many people are safe.
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I lived in quite cold and windy place for many years, the advice was never "cover your head". Instead, it's "COVER ANY EXPOSED SKIN"! Head included, of course.
I'm glad I learned to deal with cold BEFORE I have to deal with the mountains. Mountains are very unforgiving and cold is just the final (and often the fatal) blow.
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WayneC, Ill-fitting rear entry boots, if I am not mistaken. And no sign of snow-chains. Tut tut.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Utter 'Boffin' Tosh !
Wearing a hat (as well as suitable winter clothing) works for me.
Rob
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[quote="abc"]I lived in quite cold and windy place for many years, the advice was never "cover your head". Instead, it's "COVER ANY EXPOSED SKIN"! Head included, of course.
I'm glad I learned to deal with cold BEFORE I have to deal with the mountains. Mountains are very unforgiving and cold is just the final (and often the fatal) blow.[/quote]
As are ski resorts when you are full of booze and staggering back to your digs.
Heads up people to ski resort hypothermia.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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my head cold this week 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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i'm wearing a face mask anyway (so that slope staff doesnt see the difference between me and my friend on his season pass photo  )
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
my head cold this week
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Chris - Are you a 19th centaury native American, or is grammar dieing in Newcastle? 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Feel free
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FAQ
(a B&Q cut - when it's gone it's gone). I now wear a hat in bed - not thick, an Ali-G type thing, and guess what, my arms are lovely and warm! 
