Dehydration – A Guide for Survival
In this article we’ll tell you symptoms of dehydration, how to treat dehydration, ways to gather water, and conserving water. Getting lost or stranded in the woods can happen to anyone and you may find yourself without food or water. The average adult needs between 2 and 3 liters of fluid per day. Based on normal metabolic rate you can survive approximately 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food. Therefore it follows that if you find yourself in dire straits securing a water source that is clean and dependable is imperative.
Your thirst can not solely depended upon to tell you when you need water. If you rely on this as your guide you will drink only two-thirds of your daily water requirement. Here is a general rule to know how much water you need to drink. In temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) drink a liter of water every hour, and when below 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) drink half a liter of water every hour.
Symptoms of dehydration
Discussed below are some of the effects and symptoms of dehydration
Being Dehydrated is defined as the excessive loss of body fluid. Symptoms generally become noticeable after 2% of one’s normal water volume has been lost. The first symptoms of Dehydration are thirst and discomforted, sometimes with dry skin and loss of appetite. The three types of dehydration are lack of electrolytes, lack of water, and lack of water AND electrolytes.
Mild dehydration symptoms include decrease urine volume(and abnormally dark urine), thirst, headache, irritability, tiredness, dry mouth, dizziness when standing and it has been shown to negatively affect people’s moods. Moderate to severe dehydration symptoms could be little to no urine, extreme fatigue/sleepiness, fainting and seizures. With greater water loss the symptoms becomes increasingly more severe. Respiration and heart start to speed up, lack of sweat causes body temperature to rise, unconsciousness and other severely inhibiting symptoms.
How to treat dehydration
For minor dehydration the most effective treatment is more drinking water and stopping fluid loss. Solid foods can cause more harm than good by causing someone to vomit or have diarrhea. In more severe cases you have replenish necessary water and electrolytes. When someone is moderately or severely dehydrated there are two treatments. The much easier, less invasive and less painful one is oral re hydration. This is done by replacing fluid by mouth. Should this be attempted it should be done with clear fluids only and only in small portions. Some clear fluids include: water, clear broth, Jell-O and Popsicles. To replace electrolytes some good choices are Accelerade, Propel Fitness Water, Pedialyte, Gatorade, Powerade and many others. The other treatment is intravenous(IV) fluid and the solution must be isotonic or hypo-tonic. The fever can be controlled with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Seawater, alcohol and urine in either treatment will worsen the condition.
Snow: Remember to melt snow before you drink it. It can lower your core body temperature and make your situation worse. (explained below)
Water in the wild may contain chemicals, bacteria or parasites. Purify or filter water before drinking it. Use a portable water filter or boil water to remove elements. You can also use iodine or purification tablets.
Ways to gather water
There are a few ways you can attempt to find a source of water. Look for swarming insects, ample plant life and animal tracks to help navigate you to a source of water. Birds will circle over waterholes; in the morning and evening attempt to listen for chirping to find their watering spot. If a water source cannot be found you will have to find some way to collect water.
Dew accumulates on plants in the morning. Although this method will provide very little water it is something to keep in mind. Always have some form of container ready in case of a sudden thunder storm or flash flood. If you have a coat or something similar you can coil it around the top of your container to make a funnel if needed. Melt snow before you drink it. If you eat snow your body can become dehydrated because of the process your body has to go through to melt it. If the snow is not fresh white snow or has been laying on the ground of a considerable amount of time you should purify(boiling/tablets/etc) it to kill the possible bacteria it may have. Salt water is NOT safe to drink in ANY amount. You can use salt water to cool your body down, but never drink salt water.
Remember to boil any water that may have bacteria or any harmful organisms in it (that includes fresh running water).
Conserving water
Remember, you need to drink a liter/half a liter an hour. By taking measures to control your how much you sweat you can dramatically lower how much water you lose.
*Do not smoke or drink alcohol. Smoking and alcohol will hasten and accelerate your dehydration.
*Get out of the sun and stay in the shade.
*Limit your movements and if traveling is required, travel slowly and steadily
*Water is required for food digestion so food will use water that you might need for cooling yourself off.
*When laying down or sitting try to use something to separate you from the hot ground.
*Clothing provides an excellent way to prolong the cooling effects of sweat.