Heat Injuries

[goatlady]

Hydration with plain water is NOT enough in this weather folks. you MUST replenish those electrolytes you are sweating out at a huge rate. It's that loss of electrolyte balance that does the dizziness and sick tummy feeling. Regular salt (sodium chloride)is not the best you need that other salt (potassium chloride) sold as Morton Lite which is absorbed better by your tissues and is mostly what is sweated out.

Here's a recipe to keep and make in this kind of weather to avoid having heat related problems. Use this instead of plain water when working and sweating in the heat. It WILL keep you safely hydrated and those important electrolytes in balance.

WHO Oral Rehydration Solution

Table Salt (NaCl) 1/2 tsp.*
Salt Substitute (KCl) 1/2 tsp.*
Baking Soda 1/2 tsp.
Table Sugar 2 tablespoons
Tap Water 1 Liter (= 1 Qt. 2 tablespoons)

Chill. Can be served with fresh lemon squeezed into it. One can also mix it with Crystal Light or "sugar-free Kool-Aid"

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Thanks to Sharpshooter I added some of these to my medical kit today.



remind me of the old salt tablets the military used to give. There were alot of different opinions on the qualities of these but having gained alot of experience over the years there are cases that need them IMO.
It has a word of caution for high blood pressure, children and pregnancy.
The dogs days aint over yet so stay sharp!

[Sharpshooter]

Electrolytes are key to staying up and and running daily. I speak from personal daily experience where i am the front line man in the warehouses. As a receiver unloading the truck containers that are metal and sit in the heat and direct sunlight everyday, it is anywhere from 10-20 degrees hotter in the container the it is outside. Just out of curiosity i took a the temperature in the truck the day it was 113 here and inside the container's it was 132. Almost everyday i will drink anywhere from 15-20 16oz bottles of water and 5-10 16oz bottles of sports drink a day while at work. Ill take 1-3 electrolytes packets while at work. The biggest key note to remember while working in the heat is what you drink today is what you sweat and piss tomorrow

[SeldomSeenSlim]

In a desert environment with little to no humidity, removing clothing is typically going to do more harm than good. Breathable clothing allows the moisture to stay near the body. Otherwise sweat or water evaporates nearly instantly and doesn't have the same cooling affect. Those silk wild rags aren't just for looks. Well, on most folks they are, but they do have a real purpose. Wetted down and wrapped around your neck tightly they'll cool the arteries. If you can cool the blood going to the heart, it does the work of sending it to where it needs to go. They can also be wetted down and draped over the head and held on with the hat to create a evap cooler on your head. In the winter they provide a lot of insulation for the thickness of the rag. Silk is really pretty amazing stuff.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

It's that time again, be careful out there

[protus]

lol its been time down here foir a while :)
thanks for the reminder mio..heat injuries suck!