Staying ahead of heat exhaustion in the field

[Fight_Flight]

Heat exhaustion is nasty, learned that the hard way. Now, I don't just drink water when I'm out hunting or at the range. I take it easy and use electrolytes, if I start feeling dizzy or get a headache, I know it's time to cool down. What are your tricks for beating the heat?

 

[ras61]

I'm no expert, but I imagine it has a lot to do with proper hydration. When my son was a two way starter for HS football in the SC heat of August hydration days before was critical. Drinking water during the game does virtually nothing, doesn't get absorbed into the body for hours, but he did drink BANa water during the game which they call an IV in a bottle and it seemed to help. I'd bet proper conditioning has a lot to do with it too, you wouldn't run a marathon or even 5K without training before

 

[kg4kpg]

I always told my soldiers, whether in the field, or the motor pool, only drink lukewarm water. As great as ice water is, it doesn’t absorb into the body and passes. Room temp or warm water absorbs into the body to hydrate. I like those electrolyte tablets too. Once, at an M16 range at Fort Gordon, GA, in August, I got real close to being a heat casualty. Water and electrolytes saved my ass.