For those hot days

Skimo

Skimo

Joined
Mar 28, 2009
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If this isn't the right part of the forum for this post, let me know and I'll delete it and repost it in the proper place, unless a moderator feels like moving it, in which case I'd like to thank the moderator!

The reason I think my story belongs here is because this is a very real threat while hiking or camping, and because I now have first hand experience.

This weekend the mens group from church went out to help turn a barn into a house for a lady thats going through hard times, this is in Oklahoma south of OKC.

I've bucked hay and been a wild land fire fighter, I don't like the heat but it never affected me like this before.

I don't sweat very much, but this Saturday I had a heat stroke and it could have been avoided, I was lucky and a few of my USAF buddies knew what to do.

It all started when my forearms started to cramp, I should have realized it right then, especially when my hands started cramping, but I didn't want to look like the lazy guy in the shade sipping on clod water while the rest of the guys were still working their tails off.

I took a short break, sipped water and got back up to continue working, long story short I sat down again and couldn't get back up, or even talk, every muscle in my body was cramped and I was in agonizing pain, all I could do was moan for help while the guys were working.

The ambulance took about 20 minutes to arrive, I got hooked up to an IV and doused in cold water on my ride to the hospital.

My point is the same thing can happen on a trail and that during this time of the year heat exhaustion and heat stroke are real possibilities if you aren't hydrated enough and aren't aware of the warning signs.

1. Cramping, most of us can cramp up while hiking, this is a serious sign of dehydration.
2. In groups no one wants to be the slow guy, ignoring a headache or cramping will only make it worse, drink water and if possible drench yourself in cool or cold water.
3. Your body does NOT stop sweating immediately, it's a gradual process that is barely noticeable.
4.Seek shade, cool rocks during water breaks and breaks should be frequent.

If you find yourself cramping, getting dizzy, with a head ache, blurred vision or vomiting you need to cool off and get water in your system ASAP.

I think many people here hike and camp with buddies or in groups, always ask for help if you find yourself feeling ill, carry salt tablets.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-heat-exhaustion/FA00020

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-heatstroke/FA00019

What they don't tell you is that "heat cramps" go full body and hurt like the dickens!

They don't tell you that without another person there to help you that you will be unable to help yourself!

Hike with a buddy, heat strokes suck.

As a side note, I'm one of those people with an impaired ability to sweat :mad:

I hope this helps somebody out there.
 
G'day Skimo

A timely reminder of the importance of water in hot conditions :thumbup:

Colour, volume and frequency of urine output is another good early indicator of hydration levels.

As a rule of thumb, reasonable volumes of light yellow urine signals good hydration levels, smaller volumes of darker coloured urine generally indicates dehydration.

A wet cloth that's been fanned through the air and placed on the back of the neck & head will help to cool a person down and well worth doing :thumbup:

Sweating looses electrolytes, so some form of supplement would come in handy that will help prevent & treat cramps. Banannas are good on hot days :D

Hope this helps.



Kind regards
Mick
 
I'd say this is definitely the place for this post! Thanks for sharing. We forget sometimes that those early season hot days we're not used to can get us in trouble pretty quick before we recognize the signs. Bigtime trouble if you are out soloing,as lots here do.
 
Hydrate or die. It cannot be overemphasized.

I have had a few bouts with heat exhaustion while alone on the trail and it is no joke. Don't forget that water doesn't restore vital electrolytes that the body needs to recover. Keep some Gatorade mix with you, and seek shade.
 
This is why I will generally carry 2x 500ml bottles of water + packets of electrolytes as backup. These go in side pockets of my pack and NEVER get touched. If I need to refill my hydration pack, I can find a stream and use a filter to do it... but that 1L of spare water remains on hand, in case a member of my party or myself need it.

It's been my experience, however, that the best way to avoid dehydration is to use a hydration pack, rather than to drink from a bottle... because you can sip very frequently, and do not need to take a break. Interestingly, I have found that I feel better, and actually drink LESS water, if I drink a little bit constantly, rather than drinking a lot during breaks.
 
Well I'm glad this is the place for the post! :D

and thanks for the input.

Jon
 
gnius said:
It's been my experience, however, that the best way to avoid dehydration is to use a hydration pack, rather than to drink from a bottle... because you can sip very frequently, and do not need to take a break. Interestingly, I have found that I feel better, and actually drink LESS water, if I drink a little bit constantly, rather than drinking a lot during breaks.
Click to expand...

+1 on the hydration pack. When we go hiking I have a camelbak pack with the 3 liter bladder. For biking or working in the yard I have the basic camelbak. I find that I keep better hydrated this way. It is so easy to take a sip as you go rather than have to stop to retrieve the bottle.
 
Good timing. Bring this info to the forefront before it gets really hot out.

I was working outside this weekend, and was feeling pretty rough, 40oz of water later i was feeling good. Just goes to show you sipping is not enough in hot weather, you need to put down a lot of fluids.
 
Great Thread...& it is really hot here in TX, I always carry a pair of nalgene 32oz bottles and some electrolyte mix...Tablets from Camelback( orange flavor ) work great .one bottle is water second bottle is mixed with tablet.
 
Skimo said:
As a side note, I'm one of those people with an impaired ability to sweat :mad:

I hope this helps somebody out there.
Click to expand...

Im the other way around, can't stop sweating. I have hyperhidrosis, and it sucks. I have considered removing the sweat glands from my armpits, but I do a lot of outdoor activities and decided it would be better to leave them alone.
thanks for the info!
 
When I hike, I have a 3 L bladder in a sleeve inside my pack. Even with all of that water, no shade for 10 miles on a 105 degree heat indexed day, will bring on the bad stuff. Now, I carry some packets of extra electrolyte mix in my pack along with a Katadyn filter in case I run out.

If you're going to venture out in a high heat environment know how to treat for heat syncope (fainting), exhaustion, or stroke.

In the end, it's common sense. We do this for fun, not to get messed-up. Whether it means to wait a few days for the heat to break, or to hike at dawn or dusk, let common sense guide you.
 
Back in my guard days, we had a moron go down with heat stroke at Ft. Irwin, CA. (Just south of the Death Valley and north of 29 Palms, btw)

He had apparently filled his canteens with Kool-Aid or Mountain Dew or something because he didn't like drinking hot water. His foxhole partner noticed him going into convulsions and called for a medic. We were a couple positions away and went over to see if we could help, but they were already starting on him.

It was one of the most grotesque things I've ever seen. He was twitching horribly, his skin was a blotchy, inhuman color and I will never forget the expression of agony on his face. They had him on a poncho and were pouring water over him while waiting for medi-vac. I don't remember if our field medics had started an IV or not, but the chopper didn't take long to arrive- in fact we could hear it before the PL popped the red smoke. I believe he spent the rest of that AT in the hospital.

Good thread! :thumbup: As has been said above and before- hydrate or die.
 
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He may have been a moron, I may have been a moron when I went down with it, it's amazing there is a very fine line to cross for hydration and dehydration.

I think I may have been a pint low on water, but for me it was the heat and my inability to sweat that caused me to over heat.
 
Skimo,
Excellent post; all that I can add is to drink plenty of water the night before and prior to going outdoors in hot weather. I work as a forest ranger in Florida (31 years) and have experienced heat cramps. Cut back on the alcohol the night before and drink plenty of water. As others have said electrolytes are good but you should drink 3-4 bottles of water to every bottle of Gatorade. Keep a wet bandana around your neck and pour water over your chest to cool your heart area every once in awhile.
SouthernCross is right about checking urine color, it is the best indicator, you should be peeing out as much as you are drinking in, and the color should be pale yellow.
Thanks for bringing this matter to everyones attention!
 
Another tip I had given to me that was the average person doesn't feel thirsty until they are approximately a liter low on water. So, sipping if you feel thirsty won't do it. Empty your nalgene.

Also, most docs I've talked to said Gatorade has too much sodium. It's worth it to get a better electrolyte solution. It's not like it's something you drink all day, so the added cost shouldn't be a problem.
 
I can't imagine a story thats more relevant to the topic of wilderness survival - and on several levels. Not only a cautionary tale about the need to stay hydrated but a classic example of how a survival situation can come on gradually - sneak up on you. Lots of advice is given about avoiding panic, but much less is given about the need to freely admit there is a problem that needs attention. Thank you for sharing a dose of reality.
 
Very good post. Lets not forget about our four legged friends... Carry extra water for them as well.. A spray bottle works great to spray on there head and back to help them cool off. Yesterday on a hike i found an older dog laying in the bushes touching her head you could feel she was over heating. The woman keeped calling her to come and keep hiking. Had to use most of my water to help cool the dog. She came back to herself in less then 5 min.. I watched the woman and make sure she didnt push the dog hard.. On gatoraid mix only 1\3 of what it says on the box and you would be fine. They make it more sweet so people would drink it more. I went down acouple of time for not drinking enough water. It dont have to be sunny to over heat as well just humid is more then enough. Very good post.

Sasha
 
When doing heavy work in 100+ weather, I would typically drink a quart of water every 15 minutes. So much isn't necessary, but just goes to show that you can burn off an awful lot of water in the heat.

Being a couple quarts low in your body is said to cut performance by 50%.

I typically hike w/ a water bottle in hand, and the bottle doesn't go into my pack until empty, which is when I find a place to fill up and repeat.
 
Skimo said:
He may have been a moron, I may have been a moron when I went down with it, it's amazing there is a very fine line to cross for hydration and dehydration.
Click to expand...

Skimo- in no way do I put you in the same category as the individual in my Guard unit. We were in the Mojave Desert fercryinoutloud! The coolest mid-day temp was in the mid-nineties. The hottest I recall was 116. He had been given the safety briefing. They gave the same hydration awareness training every time we drilled in the field- whether it was in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana or Michigan. You would have thought that the one time it might have stuck for him was when we were in the desert southwest. He knew better. He knew he was in an extreme environment, and he made an extremely poor choice.

Your situation was much more subtle, and is therefore much more instructive to all of us here. I'm sorry it happened to you, but I'm glad you are better now, and glad that you shared the experience with us. :)
 
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