Embedded Files
I cannot stress enough how important staying hydrated is. Especially when participating in outdoor activities. Hydration can occur regardless of the temperature but of course being in the heat can make it occur very quickly and without a lot of notice.
Our youth have to learn how to read the signs given by their bodies, so while they learn to listen to their bodies it is our jobs and upmost responsibility to make the best decisions for them. we need to teach them what they need to know about staying hydrated and what to look for when they or someone else is getting dehydrated.
The best advise I can give to people, even myself, is: Foresight is extremely cheap but hindsight can cost you everything! This is why the Boy Scout Motto is "Be Prepared".
Foresight is the ability to foresee or prepare wisely for the future or future events. While Hindsight is the realization or understanding of the significance and nature of events after they have occurred.
Please read these unfortunate events so that we can avoid them at all cost:
https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/incident-report/incident-reviews/heat-and-hydration/
https://www.knau.org/post/autopsy-boy-scout-died-hike-dehydration-overheating
The below article is from Scout Life: https://scoutlife.org/outdoors/outdoorarticles/1908/heat-exhaustion-the-silent-killers/
How to Avoid Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Listen to what your body is telling you...
Listen to what your body is telling you...
There are 2 levels of dehydration, Mild (Moderate) and Severe. You body will give you clues if you are suffering from either of these levels of dehydration. Not understandng these signs and not staying hydrated could mean the difference between life or death.
Signs of Mild Dehydration
Signs of Mild Dehydration
Thirst
Dry or sticky mouth
Not peeing very much
Dark yellow pee
Dry, cool skin
Headache
Muscle Cramps
Signs of Severe Dehydration
Signs of Severe Dehydration
Not peeing or having very dark yellow pee
Very dry skin
Feeling dizzy
Rapid heartbeat
Rapid breathing
Sunken eyes
Sleepiness, lack of energy, confusion or irritability
Fainting
Symptoms for Babies & young children can be different than for Adults
Symptoms for Babies & young children can be different than for Adults
LOSING H2o
LOSING H2o
When your body loses too much water and salt, trouble follows. Along with the above mentioned symptoms comes Heat cramps — muscle cramps caused by water and salt loss — aren’t serious, but they do hurt a lot.
To recover from heat cramps, drink a sports drink or water with a pinch of salt so you replenish electrolytes lost though sweating. Remember that most sports drinks contain a lot of sugar, so drink them in moderation. You can also drink plain water with a salty snack.
If you rest and gently stretch cramped muscles, and massage them a little bit, the pain goes away faster.
A BODY OF WATER
A BODY OF WATER
You may look and feel pretty solid, but more than half of you is water — and you need it all. On a normal day you may lose a gallon or more when you sweat, urinate or defecate and every time you breathe.
Usually you gain back the lost fluid by drinking and eating. But when you lose too much water, as John Musgrove did — a problem called dehydration — your health and maybe even your life are threatened.
Always drink before you’re thirsty. If your urine isn’t clear, you’re not drinking enough. Remember this saying: “If your urine is dark, you have missed the mark.”
SWEAT IT
SWEAT IT
Sweat is mostly water, with some sodium chloride, also known as salt, and some other things in it. When sweat evaporates from your skin on hot days, that cools you inside. If you’ve lost too much water, you can begin to get sick from heat exhaustion. Symptoms include headache, nausea, light-headedness, and extreme fatigue. You skin make look pale and feel clammy or sweaty.
This is a serious health problem. You can beat heat exhaustion by resting in a shady area, removing excess clothing, cooling off the skin and drinking water. It’s a good idea to drink at least a quart of water, slowly, and to add just a pinch of salt to it. You can also nibble a few salty snacks while drinking. Remember: Sip slowly so your body absorbs as much of the water and salt as possible.
TOO HOT, TOO DRY
TOO HOT, TOO DRY
If you get too hot, your skin becomes red and hot and you heat up inside. Your brain, which is very sensitive to rising temperatures, begins to cook. A hot brain can make you crazy, feel lost and want to argue or pick a fight. Heat stroke has struck. You have only minutes to act!
A person with heat stroke should be cooled down as quickly as possible. Soak their skin with water and fan them to speed the cooling effect of evaporation. If water is short, focus on cooling the head. This is a medical emergency! This person must be cooled immediately and evacuated.
BE COOL
BE COOL
You can prevent heat problems, using these tips:
Avoid hard exercise during the hottest part of the day.
If you’re not in shape, slow down and let your body adjust.
Make sure you acclimate to the environment and get in shape before the event.
Dress in layers and wear clothing that breathes and wicks moisture away from you.
Eat snacks that contain a little salt.
Drink water and keep drinking it.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse