Most people realize how important it is to stay hydrated in their daily lives. Hydration is even more important when it comes to spending time in the outdoors. Dehydration in the wilderness can turn into a serious problem, especially if there’s no immediate water source nearby. However, there are ways to handle dehydration in the wilderness. Here’s what you should know.
Signs of Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when a body can no longer replace its own fluids. There are a few different types of dehydration, each of which can lead to further complications. Generally, just experiencing thirst is a sign of a low percentage of dehydration. As that percentage of body fluid loss grows, other symptoms will start to occur.
It’s possible to experience nausea, full body weakness, headaches, dizziness, and a host of other ailments. Once there’s a loss of up to 15 percent, blurred vision, tongue swelling, and even outright delirium can occur. Anything beyond that will typically result in death.
Dehydration Prevention
The best way to keep dehydration in the wilderness from occurring is to plan accordingly. Bring plenty of water and sip it in small amounts continuously throughout the day. It’s important to keep thirst from occurring at all. In addition, the environment can also sap moisture. Eating foods with low water content can also accelerate dehydration, so bring snacks like fresh fruit and veggies, cheese, and dips or spreads instead of processed foods, crackers, and dried fruits.
Take frequent breaks if you are sweating a lot, or are in an area with harsh environmental conditions. Anytime you go hiking or camping in the wilderness, it is vital that you conduct a little research prior to your departure to ensure you are prepared for the local environment and any weather conditions that may arise.
Treatment
In mild cases of dehydration, simply adding fluid to the body faster than it loses it will help aid recovery. Getting out of the sun or shedding excessive clothing will help to reduce the loss of body fluids from sweating. Reduce all activity for as long as it takes for signs of recovery to appear. Medical attention may be required if dehydration becomes incapacitating.
The risk of dehydration in the wilderness is serious enough that you should always carry a water filtration/purification device with you in addition to carrying ample water. That way you will not have to risk becoming infected with a waterborne parasite or disease if your only available water source is natural.
Related article: 12 Things to Remember About Hot Weather Camping
Featured Image from Piotr Chrobot/Unsplash
