Can you melt Snow and drink it?

Answer 1

If you are stranded in a blizzard and are trying to stay warm, you should you melt snow and them drink it instead of just eating snow because if you eat un-melted snow it will lower your body temperature. If your core temperature drops too low, you will die. Melting the snow first helps to minimize the drop in temperature.

Answer 2

You should melt the snow first, for 2 reasons:

1. Snow is no cleaner than groundwater, and it should be brought to a rolling boil for at least 3 minutes to ensure that all bacteria and viruses have been killed.

2. Repeatedly exposing the inside of your mouth to cold temperatures (like those from contact with snow) will create problems with blood flow, and can actually lead to further dehydration.

Answer 3

You need to melt the snow because the amount of saliva that is used to melt the snow is more than the amount of water you get from eating the snow so you will become dehydrated faster from eating the snow. As well the heat used to melt the snow in your mouth will decrease your body temperature.

Answer 4

You should melt the snow and then drink it. If you just eat the snow, you will lower your body temperature.

Answer 5

It does not matter if you eat snow or melt it first, either process would hydrate the body. Melting the snow would allow you to filter out any impurities that may be in the snow.

Answer 6

You cannot drink snow, because it is a solid. However, if you melt snow into liquid water, you can drink it.

Answer 7

It's just frozen rain water. So yes you can melt it and drink it.

Answer 8

You can but if you want to be really safe (and have the equipment) you might want to boil it first.