How to help homeless people during Winter
Donations over $2 are tax deductible
How Homeless Individuals survive in Winter
As winter descends, bringing with it biting winds and chilling temperatures, the struggle for survival intensifies for homeless individuals. While many of us seek refuge in the warmth of our homes, countless people face the harsh realities of the cold season without a safe space to call their own.
The Impact of Winter on Homelessness
Finding a place to sleep that offers protection from the cold can be a constant struggle. Public spaces such as parks and bus stations are often closed or strictly monitored during winter, limiting the options for safe sleeping spots. Emergency accomodation can provide some respite, but they often have limited capacity and may turn people away when they are full. Additionally, due to issues such as mental health or PTSD some individuals cannot stay in traditional crisis accomodation.
Understanding the Challenges Faced by Homeless Individuals in Cold Weather
Sleeping on the street leads to a number of challenges in Winter including:
- Keeping bedding dry
- Drying wet bedding quickly
- Keeping dry while sleeping
- Obtaining bedding with adequate waterproofing and water repellency
- Keeping healthy and warm in cold and wet conditions
- Insulating the body from cold ground as well as cold air temperatures
How body heat is lost or retained
How the body looses heat
- Radiation Loss
-
- Loss of heat to surrounding air.
- Main type of body heat loss.
- Convection
- Loss of heat to cold air or wind.
- Conduction
- Loss of heat to objects in direct contact with the body (example. cold ground)
- Wet clothing and bedding increases conduction loss.
- Evaporation
- Loss of heat via loss of moisture from skin and lungs.
- Wet clothing and bedding increases evaporation loss.
How the Backpack Bed traps heat
- Radiation Trapped
- Radiant body heat is trapped inside the Backpack Bed creating an insulation layer of warm air.
- Convection
- Once the air inside the Backpack Bed is warmed convection loss is stopped / reduced.
- Conduction
- The Backpack Bed's insulated mattress traps lost heat and reflects it back into the body.
- Bedding and clothing are kept dry inside.
- Evaporation
- 3 ventilation points enable airflow.
3rd Party Field Test
Backpack Bed in Snow at -17.8° C with -28.9° C Wind Chill
| Duration: 1 Hour | Adult: Male | Clothing: Jeans, shirt, 2 x pullovers, gloves, hat, thermal socks. |
|
Temperature measurements (after 1 hour): -12.8° C Concrete slab / snow surface -3.7° C Mattress inside Backpack Bed (not directly under body) 16.3° C Mattress inside Backpack Bed (under body) |
||
| Findings: After 1 hour it was "21.1° C (70° F) warmer underneath me than the ground itself". | ||
Field test undertaken by Winter Warmth Mission in Cleveland Ohio (originally published on Facebook).
*** WARNING: graphic medical image below.
Avoidable cold weather injuries
The Backpack Bed stops avoidable injuries from hypothermia, frostbite and trench foot - that can lead to severe medical issues and death.
Up to 21% of people sleeping on the street in Australia have suffered avoidable cold weather illnesses hypothermia, frostbite or trenchfoot (MS2H 2011).
Body heat is lost 5 times faster when a person is wearing wet clothes / using wet blankets – this increases when there is a wind chill.
Frostbite within minutes
Affected skin and tissue go numb so people cannot feel the frostbite occurring. Frostbite is a type of burn that occurs once the tissue and skin freezes.
It's most likely to strike fingers, toes or the face (ears, cheeks, chin, nose). Exposure can lead to severe tissue damage, the worst cases need amputation.
When amputation occurs this can lead to further complications, infections and even death - especially if the person remains unsheltered.
Image: Unsheltered homeless person with severe frostbite that required amputations.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is dangerous drop in body temperature caused by exposure to cold temperatures. This is more likely to happen in winter. People are also at risk of hypothermia if they are unprepared for a sudden drop in temperature or are wet for a prolonged period.
Average body temperature: 37° C / 98.6° F.
Hypothermia body temperature: drops below 35° C / 95° F.
Severe hypothermia:body temperature: drop to 32° C / 89.6° F or lower.
Trenchfoot
Trench foot is a condition that can occur when feet are cold and wet for a long period of time. It often happens due to wearing wet socks and shoes for days at a time. Prolonged exposure to damp, cold and unsanitary conditions can lead to the disease.
Unsheltered people often don't have a change of shoes or socks.
Give Hope - tonight Aussies are sleeping on the streets in your community.
Backpack Beds (swags) SAVE LIVES
Backpack Bed for Homeless partners with homeless services across Australia to distribute our study proven Backpack Bed to street sleeping homeless without shelter.
We are not government funded and rely on the support of everyday Australians to help give back safety to people living on the streets. Your tax deductible donation can help someone survive a night on the streets by protecting them from the harsh weather climates that can happen at night.
Donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Lightweight 3KG
Street tough material
Full Body Protection
4 season summer & winter
Fire Retardant
Fabric + Mattress 190cm x 55cm
Water & Wind Proof
Protects against winter chills
Full Body Mosquito Net
Stop bites on hot summer nights
Ergonomic Backpack
Adjustable shoulder & chest straps
Storage Pockets
4 pockets - store over 20kg
Secret lockable pocket
With brass key lock
You can make a difference in Winter - Donate today
How your donated Backpack Bed makes a difference
Newsletter Signup
up to 4 emails / year
Thanks for subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions.