6 Signs & Symptoms of Dehydration + Staying Hydrated Outdoors
10-09-2015
Author: Blog Editor in Outdoor Adventures 101
By Brigham Madden-Cox
Hopefully you’re not like my older brother and are always asking why it is important to drink water. If you are like my brother, drinking water is important because it keeps you hydrated. Staying hydrated not only keeps you safe, but also keeps you a healthy and happy camper.
Hopefully you’re not like my older brother and are always asking why it is important to drink water. If you are like my brother, drinking water is important because it keeps you hydrated. Staying hydrated not only keeps you safe, but also keeps you a healthy and happy camper.
Symptoms of Dehydration
Whether you’re a veteran of the outdoors, a health and fitness nut, or just a normal guy or gal that likes to hike every now and then, you’re probably familiar with most signs and symptoms of dehydration. We all know the thirsty, dry and sticky mouth feeling but some people try to treat dehydration headaches and dizziness with ibuprofen!
If you like to test your limits on a regular basis and “surviving in the wilderness” is included in the title of one of your favorite books, then you should probably be aware of the symptoms of severe dehydration. Just in case:
- Extreme thirst.
- Irritability and/or confusion.
- Little-to-no urination.
- Sunken eyes.
- Rapid heartbeat/breathing and fever.
- Delirium/unconsciousness.
If you’re experiencing any of these, especially the last two, get to a hospital immediately as the danger doesn’t stop with these symptoms. Dehydration can lead to heat injury, seizures, and even death if not handled promptly and adequately.
Tips for Staying Hydrated
“Be prepared” is kind of the unofficial Outdoor Adventures 101 motto, and certainly applies if you’re looking for some easy ways to stay hydrated while out and about. The first thing to know is that a healthy water intake is a minimum of two quarts per day.
Also, if you’re planning on hiking or camping or something strenuous it is recommended that you start drinking water regularly a day in advance, then 1-3 cups right before, keeping it up at a regular interval during the activity.
Some other tips are:
Tips for Staying Hydrated
“Be prepared” is kind of the unofficial Outdoor Adventures 101 motto, and certainly applies if you’re looking for some easy ways to stay hydrated while out and about. The first thing to know is that a healthy water intake is a minimum of two quarts per day.
Also, if you’re planning on hiking or camping or something strenuous it is recommended that you start drinking water regularly a day in advance, then 1-3 cups right before, keeping it up at a regular interval during the activity.
Some other tips are:
- Carry fruit and vegetables with you (they’re high in water content). Oh, and Gatorade/Powerade for the bonus of electrolytes.
- Don’t wait for thirst since it means you’re already dehydrated.
- Stay hydrated in cold weather, too! Insulated clothing makes you sweat, but staying hydrated will also keep your core temperature up.
- If you are dehydrated, be careful not to drink too much too quickly as your body may pull in too much water, causing cells to oversaturate and rupture.
Finding Potable Drinking Water in Unlikely Places
I anticipated you would ignore my “Be prepared” motto and just want to learn some survival skills. Fine. I’d still recommend that you always carry a metal canteen/cup and a non-mechanical, non-fuel-dependent fire starter. Just do it, or else potable water that actually meets drinking water standards will be hard to come by in a pinch.
Why? Because when drinking water out in the wild you should always be extremely cautious as water that isn’t purified can make you extremely sick.
How do you purify scummy water or melted snow into potable drinking water you ask? Well, strain it with a cloth, then boil it for 10 minutes using your fire starter and metal container!
Alternatively you could purchase iodine/chlorine tablets, which take roughly 30 minutes to chemically purify strained water. If you can’t boil water for some reason you can:
- Collect rainwater with a vinyl sheet or any empty containers.
- Gather dew with a towel (and wring it out).
- Trap water evaporating off of a particularly leafy tree branch.
There are also plenty of other ways, pretty much a method for every location. Look up “belowground still,” “solar still,” or “beach well” for three other useful, if more complicated, methods of collecting potable water.
And that’s pretty much what I’ve got for you concerning water. So even if you still don’t get the importance of drinking water, at least you’ll know what to do if you get stranded on your next spontaneous outing. Stay safe (and prepared) out there!
And that’s pretty much what I’ve got for you concerning water. So even if you still don’t get the importance of drinking water, at least you’ll know what to do if you get stranded on your next spontaneous outing. Stay safe (and prepared) out there!
Photo Credit: Photographer Joel Santos
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