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I must stress having plenty of spares and enough water for everyone in case of a
breakdown in the back country. With today's modern transportation, it's quite a
simple thing to get stranded 45 miles from nowhere and no water. Make sure
you've got a few gallons of it before you go.
1) Control loss of body fluids. Urinate as little as possible. Save it for when
it can be recycled through a solar still. Don't depend on them to provide your
party with water. In optimim conditions, a solar still can provide a pint or two
of water a day, not adequate by any means to keep one alive.) Diarhhea in a
temperate climate can quickly lead to death by dehydration. Avoid alcohol, which
contributes to dehydration, and any diuretics such as coffee and caffeinated
sodas.
2) Avoid Sweating. Control your level of perspiration as much as possible. This
means avoiding the sun. Stay in the shade. Save shelter construction, water
collection, and all other tasks for night time if possible. Construct a bed that
keeps you off the ground and allows air to circulate under you if possible. Do
not lie on the ground. Try to keep fully clothed as clothing holds the sweat in
so it will evaporate slower, cooling the body and decreasing perspiration. You
may feel cooler without a shirt, but will perspire more and also risk a
debilitating and dehydrating painful sunburn. It gets cold in the desert at
night, sometimes, uncomfortably cold. During the day, I'd try to sack out on
something that circulates air underneath me, but at night, I'd look for
insulation. Some of this depends on the time of year and good ole common sense.
Use what you have.)
3) Avoid Smoking. Smoking tobacco will dry the throat and add to your thirst.
4) Suck on a pebble. It's an "old Indian trick" but it works. Sucking on a
pebble helps produce saliva, keeping your mouth moist and diminishing the
sensation of thirst.
5) Avoid Salt Water. Should you find yourself on a coastline do not drink the
sea water. Recycle it through a solar still. Have several solar stills. One is
not nearly enough.
6) Do not drink Urine. This would obviously be a last resort, but it will only
cause you more problems as your kidneys attempt to process waste products you
are re-introducing to the body. The more dehydrated you are the more toxic your
urine will be. Recycle it through a solar still. Drinking alcohol, salt water,
blood, and urine will only increase the effects of dehydration. Water that is
more than 50% salt will increase dehydration while that which is less than 50%
contaminated will increase the body's relative water content.
7) Eat Sparingly. Digestion requires water. Proteins require more water than
complex carbohydrates, starches, and sugars. Raw fruits and vegetation contain
greater water content than many processed foods. Avoid salty foods. I've often
seen middle eastern people eating melons, especially watermelon, in the desert
setting. This idea has alot of merit to it.
Watermelon has a pronounced diuretic effect. Perhaps the Middle Easterners have
a genetic or acquired resistance to it.
The "avoid salty foods" does lessen your may reduce thirst, but are continuously
losing essential salts [electrolytes] in sweat, so don't avoid salt so much that
tip over into salt-depletion heat exhaustion. [Very similar symptoms to water
depletion. Get very thirsty, but no amount of water will quench the thirst and
will even make it worse.