heatillness

HEAT CRAMPS Often the first sign of heat illness. Moderate to extreme muscle cramps in legs, arms, or the abdomen. Cramping is caused by a loss of salts in the body due to excessive sweating.
HEAT EXHAUSTION Symptoms include headache, mental confusion, irritability excessive sweating, weakness, dizziness, cramps, and pale moist skin.
HEAT STROKE Lack of sweat, hot dry skin, headache, dizziness, rapid pulse rate, nausea, and vomiting followed by unconsciousness.
Victims will often exhibit behavior similar to that of a person that is drunk or on drugs..

TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID HEAT ILLNESS
1. The obvious thing to do is drink plenty of water.
2. Do not ration water it is doing you no good if it is in your canteen.
3. Drinking water at regular intervals will help the body utilize the cooling effects of the water.
4. Do not drink alcohol or Sodas, It decreases the body's ability to tolerate heat and uses more water to digest.
5.Try not to absorb heat. You can do this by wearing long sleeves, pants and some type of head covering.(Middle eastern Desert dwellers don't wear all those robes and head to toe cover because it looks cool) Sweating in your clothes will help cool your body.
6. Try to breath through your nose and keep the talking to a minimum. A large amount of body moisture is lost through the mouth.
7. Try to eat small meals at regular intervals.
8. If you are out of water it is best that you do not eat food. Eating and digesting food uses large amounts of water.
9. Rule of thumb is one gallon of water per person per day but in Desert regions Four gallons per person per day is my recommended minimum.
10.Sports drinks are good to help replenish fluids lost from sweating but are not to be used as a replacement for water. A tip that was told to me by a Border Patrol agent is to carry Pedialyte. The Mexican equivalent is said to be even better than the American stuff.
11.Urine color is a easy way to tell how hydrated you are. A light color means you are well hydrated while a dark color means you need to drink more.
12. When planning a trip or if you know you will be spending time in the heat, Start drinking large amounts of water days in advance. If your body has a large water content then you will be less likely to experience heat illness.

Keep an eye on those that are with you.
You may feel fine but your buddies may be dying.