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**paulcalloway** · 01-10-2007, 09:29 PM

Re: Still Vertical in the Heat

I'd like to add a couple more important hydration points drawn from my professional experience -

Don't forget to check your dipstick - if you're peeing clear it's a pretty good sign your hydrated. If it's dark yellow/orange it means there's blood in your urine and you're likely dehydrated.

Also, the salt mentioned in Kevin's General Order is crucially important. Did you know, it's actually possible to drink too much water?

Too much water without salt causes your sodium-level to become too diluted and you enter a condition called "water intoxication" or hyponatremia. It's not a good place to be.

There was a football player at Tri State University in Angola, Indiana a couple years ago who had to be air-lifted to a nearby hospital because he had a reaction to drinking too much water and it almost cost him his life.

I deal with this stuff every summer with NFL teams, college football and high school football and it is serious business. Young men in the prime of their life and in far better health than 99% of us, die every year because they don't have adequate hydration.

**PvtSchultz** · 01-10-2007, 09:44 PM

Re: Still Vertical in the Heat

To echo what both gentlemen have said, "hydrate or die." Proper hydration is something that needs to be handled every day, not just when it is hot out. It is possible to dehydrate in the cooler months too. Like Paul said, check your urine output, that will tell you how well you are doing. For those who like to drink sports drinks, be careful you do not over due them, you will throw your electrolytes off by drinking too much. You can water those sports drinks down with water and still get the desired affect. Water is still the best source.

**Dale Beasley** · 01-11-2007, 07:16 AM

Re: Still Vertical in the Heat

Just to add a few things...

-You must start getting yourself ready for this event early. If you wait, you will go down. You will then have to be taken to River Regional Hospital, and that bill will run you about 600.00.

<Edit>: This is not the forum to be discussing use of Gatorade. Comment removed. -PC

-It is going to be the job of everyone to take care of each-other...casue guys, it going to be hot, or smell hot, anyway.

**maineman** · 01-11-2007, 11:18 AM

Re: Still Vertical in the Heat

Is the darkening of the urine, actually blood, or is it due to a greater than normal concentration of minerals, salts , and other impurities that the Kidneys have filtered from the blood and due to lack of water, creates a higher concentration, thus a less diluted urine.

**Charles Heath** · 01-11-2007, 11:20 AM

Re: Still Vertical in the Heat

For those enjoying the outstanding cuisine of the National Army at Vicksburg, the rations will most likely include plenty of salt with your meat product, a certain melody inspiring legume noted for carbs and protein, and dried peaches. The latter issue item is very high in potassium. A few of the other items likely to be purchased for this event will also be beneficial in terms of keeping liquid and salts in your system. Anyone suffering from hypothermia is more than welcome to sit by the mess fire.

Dale mentioned the buddy system. You may notice your messmate having dehydration symptoms long before he does, so be sure to keep an eye on those around you.

**Alamo Guard** · 01-11-2007, 05:36 PM

Re: Still Vertical in the Heat

Charles, After the men consume the legumes tnhey may not want to sit to close to the fire that you mentioned. Unless you can have a controlled venting operation in place?

**Dale Beasley** · 01-12-2007, 12:57 AM

Re: Still Vertical in the Heat

I had spoken to Brother Landrum in regards to tent flys. They were not mentioned in the Confederate Items list on the requirements.

Staying out of the direct sunshine under a tent fly or in the shade as much as possible, is another key.

Hope we can put our tent-flys even yet in the shade of the tree lines.

This is going to be a great event. But we have to remember, we are not the soldier of the 1860s, so we must do our homework. AND that is get ready for the heat, and respect it once we get there.

**coastaltrash** · 01-12-2007, 07:27 AM

Re: Still Vertical in the Heat

While I appreciate all of the comments on this thread, I can honestly say I know how ET must have when all of the thins were going on just before Rich Mountain. Is it going to be hot? Well, it's June....it's middle Mississippi...even original accounts complain about heat and the exhaustion. So yeah I'd say it's a pretty safe bet the mercury will be high up there. Do I want Gatorade in canteens? No. Will someone get tossed for drinking it in a hidden manor, unknown to any other person? No, but I would expect better of folks, the diet is being worked out to work in items with vital nutrients, but if some feel it a life or death situation to have a ration of Gatorade then at least have the common sense to pack it in a period manor. In the end it's every event coordinators job to ensure the safety of the participants, and to make sure folks have a wonderful time. BUT with an expected total of 140, in the end it is totally up to you as an individual to take care of yourself.

**LibertyHallVols** · 01-12-2007, 09:29 AM

Re: Still Vertical in the Heat

If I didn't want to sweat, I'd find another hobby or just do those late October picket post events. I hope folks aren't going to let the weather deter them from attending. This will be my first time to Vicksburg and I am psyched about this event!

Heck, I'll finally be able to use that puney WVM "Pea Ridge" mosquito net... er, uh, blanket.

**paulcalloway** · 01-12-2007, 09:49 AM

Re: Still Vertical in the Heat

Plenty of water and salty food is all ones needs to prevent dehydration. I sell Gatorade by the pallet but I don't think it has any place inside the caution tape at a reenactment or living history.

**boreguard** · 01-12-2007, 08:13 PM

Re: Still Vertical in the Heat

Boy I can't believe I'm this late jumping in here on this subject. I'll tell yall like my Paw Paw used to say during the Summer when we were bailing hay, building houses, fishing, or anything else outside and someone would complain about it being hot...He'd simply say that "it just smells that way" !

I personally would rather sweat than freeze my tail off but thats just me.

<Edit>: This is not the forum to be discussing use of Gatorade. Comment removed. -PC

**Charles Heath** · 01-12-2007, 08:37 PM

Re: Still Vertical in the Heat

As the late John Vernon said in the movie Animal House:

"Every fall the trees are filled with underwear. Every Spring the toilets explode."

Every year the Gatorade thread(s) descend upon the AC Forum. Every year the Charleston giant squid, bayou yeti, Elmira dancing bears, or man-eating coal snakes descend upon the event threads. The lions, tigers, and bears post last year before crash number 5 or 6 was over 100 posts. It's time to lock this one down before we have to explain the merits of issued dried peaches, issued molasses, issued salt, and issued vinegar for the 10,000th time.

To close, and with a nod to the future Senator Blutarsky and his lovely wife, "guess what your antiscorbutic is now?"