On 07/11/2014 19:47, Uncle Peter wrote:
On Fri, 07 Nov 2014 18:43:51 -0000, John Rumm
wrote:

On 07/11/2014 15:54, Tim Streater wrote:
In article , Uncle Peter wrote:

On Fri, 07 Nov 2014 03:57:18 -0000, John Rumm

wrote:

On 31/10/2014 04:56, Bod wrote:
Uncle Peter made this incredible statement:

"This is a fact. -20C air does not make you cold, . You might
shiver
if you were naked, but the shivering will stop you getting any
colder".

To me, it sounds like he's talking absolute bull**** and he
should be
sent to the funny farm, but is there an element of truth in what he
said?....Anyone know?

Its ******** obviously... (what else would you expect given the
source?)

However its complicated by a number of factors to the extent that
someone fit and active and able to move about, might survive for a
reasonably long period (hours rather than days) even if naked and at
-20
air temperature - especially if in a dry air environment with with no
wind chill. Add some solar IR gain and that will also help greatly.

However nude with full exposure to the air, and no movement (other
than
shivering) and you are down to a couple of hours predicted survival
time
[1].

For someone elderly sat indoors in a poorly heated home even 10
degrees
could prove fatal.

Heavy alcohol consumption and exposure is also often fatal at higher
temperatures.

Alcohol prevents frostbite.

It can also cause death. The drunk imbiber feels perfectly warm as
alcohol is a source of quick and cheap calories. So he might lie down
and go to sleep. Good chance then of freezing to death without
noticing.

Even worse than that - it acts as a vasodilator - increasing blood flow
to the body surface and extremities (making one feel warmer) but also
increasing the actual rate of heat loss.

And protecting your fingers.

Which reduces the heat to your vital organs quicker.