From: Jason A. Cotting (p2ranger@anvilgear.com)
Date: Thu Dec 12 2002 - 19:29:19 CST
I've seen less people with the bladders having dehydraion problems than
those with bottles. Make sure the bottles are easy to get to or as pointed
out earlier they will drink less.
I'll give you an example. I had a kid in 2001, his name was Doug. He had one
of those bladdders and that thing was in his mouth all the time. He had to
pee everytime the trail turned. We discussed making a catheter that would
run down his pant leg so we wouldn't be stopping for him to pee all the
time. But he didn't get dehydrated.
Learning to drink out of a Nalgene while moving is an art. Takes lots of
practice, or a beard to hide the water you spill :)
What ever you go with, make sure you have atleast 2 containers and
containers need to be atleast 1 qt capacity. If one gets lost or dies you
have another container atleast. Guidebook to adventure says 2-3 qts but
needs to say 3 qts min. Some people can go with 2 but most can't.
And its not the advisor's responsibility to make them drink water. The crew
leader should be enforcing this. I've seen some crews that have someone
watch the crew for water intake for each day. Kids have to learn the hard
way or they don't learn at all. Yes advisors are there for safety, so find
another way like "quitely" advising the crewleader about water intake.
Overhydration does happen. I forget the scientific name for it, but I call
it water intoxification. Bottom line, you flush out your electrolytes and
you are MUCH worse off than being dehydrated. It happened to a friend of
mine and it wasn't pretty. 45 minute seizure and 2 days in a coma. But he
drank approx 20 qts in a day without eating. This is about as extreme as it
can get.
Jason
><>
Retired Ranger
-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.7 : Thu Mar 13 2003 - 10:37:38 CST