The death of a teen-age rabbit himter in Wyoming Saturday is a tragic reminder of the potential dangers of being stranded in the mountains, deserts, or byways by snow and cold weather. The youth, from the Riverton, Wyo. area, was a member of a party in two vehicles stuck in snow in a Wyoming cold wave in which temperatures dipped as low as nearly 50 below zero. Three companions stayed with the vehicles. “They had plenty of gasoline and stayed warm, until rescued,” a sheriff’s deputy reported. But the youth who left to seek help at a resort some 10 miles distant, perished from exposure. Warning of the winter-time dangers in such situations, the Fremont County Coroner said the youth traveled a mile and a half then started falling down in the snow. ”That’s usually what happens – they start falling and then they just lay down and die.” Similar situations could happen to just about anybody in a combination of circumstances. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has this advice in blizzard conditions, which could be applied on a broader basis to winter problems: If you get stuck or disabled in a blizzard, stav with your car. ”Don’t get out and start hiking. It’s easy to lose your bearings in the swirling snows of a blizzard, and farmers . have been known to get lost between their house and barn.” Further advice from the agency: Make your car visible, Tie colored cloth to the antenna. At night keep the inside light on and flash your headlights occasionally. (Three long, followed by three short flashes is a universally understood distress signal.) “Staying close to the car, clean built-up snow from around the exhaust and grill; then start the engine occasionally and warm up with the heater. Be sure to open a ‘downwind’ window a crack to provide oxygen and get rid of possible carbon monoxide from the car’s exhaust. Don’t remain motionless for long periods. You might fall asleep and become so weakened by the cold you will be unable to recover. Clap your hands, crawl over into the back seat, exercise as best you can. Clean the windows occasionally so you can see and be seen.” Naturally the wise thing is to avoid such situations. Keep posted on storm warnings, road conditions. Let prudence and Judgment be constant watchwords, and keep in mind health, safety, and security in decision-making.