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6 Ways to prevent dehydration in a survival
scenario
By Mary Miller
Your
body naturally loses water every day, either through sweating, urinating, or
even breathing.
Dehydration
occurs when you are unable to replenish your body’s water supply and you end up
losing more fluids than you take in.
In
a survival situation, dehydration is a serious threat since you likely won’t
last for more than three days without water.
Follow
these helpful tips to avoid dehydration when SHTF (Shit Hits the Fan). (h/t to SurvivalSullivan.com)
Recognize
the signs of dehydration
If
you are familiar with the symptoms if dehydration, you will be able to know
immediately if you or your companions are not properly hydrated.
Some
common symptoms of dehydration include extreme thirst, food cravings,
dizziness, muscle fatigue, cramps, headaches, nausea, irritability, reduced
concentration, bad breath, dry skin and low urine output.
Be
sure to check the color of your urine. Dark-colored urine is a sure sign of
dehydration. If you see this symptom, keep drinking fluids until your urine
returns to a healthy light yellow color.
Take
small sips of water frequently
If
you are hiking, bugging out, or doing any intense physical activity, you should
drink small amounts of water frequently.
Remind
yourself to take a sip from your canteen by setting a timer to go off every 15
to 20 minutes.
Pay
close attention to how much water you’re drinking. A good estimate would be to
drink roughly eight ounces of water for every 15 minutes of activity.
Follow
this habit even when you don’t feel thirsty. It is a far better alternative
than chugging a liter of water in one sitting due to being parched.
Keep
your food and water supply easily accessible
It
is important to balance your food intake with adequate fluid consumption to
maintain healthy levels of both water and electrolytes.
Keep
a well-stocked bug-out bag packed with nutritious snacks, dried food and energy
bars.
You
should also carry a portable canteen or water bottle filled with clean drinking
water.
These
should both be on your person at all times, so you can have easy access to them
as soon as you or your companions show the first signs of dehydration.
You
can also stock up on fruits and vegetables with a high water content, including
cucumbers, tomatoes, grape fruits, star fruits, strawberries and baby carrots.
Find
other sources of water to refill your supply
Your
water supply shouldn’t be limited to what you can carry at any given time.
You
should regularly refill your water supply from other sources when you have the
chance. That way, you can minimize your risk of running out of water.
You
can also get water from lakes or ponds, as long as you boil, purify or filter
it first, preferably all three.
Minimize
your intake of alcohol and caffeinated drinks
Not
all beverages will rehydrate you equally. Consuming alcohol and caffeinated
beverages, such as tea and coffee, will only worsen your condition instead of
rehydrating you.
Alcohol
may even impair your judgement, which is the last thing you need in a survival
situation.
Water
is your best bet but if it is not available, then there are many other liquids
you can take instead, such as non-dairy milk or broth.
You
can also take some sports drinks or energy drinks as long as they do not
contain any added sugars.
Minimize
physical activity and exposure to hot weather
Heat
exposure and strenuous exercise can cause you to sweat profusely. While
sweating can help cool your body down, it can also lead to a loss of body
fluids.
If
possible, stay in the shade and conserve your energy. If you need to hike or
engage in any intense manual labor, then do so during cooler weather or when the
sun is no longer at peak strength.
You
should also make sure to wear clothing that can provide adequate protection
from the sun.
As
long as you follow these useful survival tips, you should be able to safely
avoid dehydration when SHTF (Shit Hits the Fan).
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