Weather related fatalities

What is the #1 cause of weather related fatalities (stupidity doesn't count ).

Go here for the answer:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hazstats.shtml

Here is a link to weather awareness topics:
http://www.weather.gov/safety.php

The #1 is HEAT. That's right, good ol' heat.

Here in East Texas, in the last 21 days we've had 16 days of 100+F. Obviously, I'm not hiking in weather like that but we have to take care even working outside for short periods of time.

My job keeps me inside at the computer most of the day, so I try to only work outside from 7am-1pm and I also drink lots of water and sport drinks (for the electrolytes). Even with that and my knowledge and training I got overheated last weekend while working outside. My mistake? Not drinking enough water before I got started. I should have drank a quart before I ever got out of the truck. As it was, it took several quarts to get rehydrated over a 4 hour period, indoors with airconditioning and also had to monitor my blood pressure.

So, let's be careful out there where ever you are.

Many years ago I had the grand idea to attend tennis camp with my best friend in Fayetteville, NC in June. Those of you familiar with "Fayettenam" know that this is consistently the hot spot in NC in the summer time. Afternoon temps were easily hitting 110 or more on the courts, and it was "clear skies" above the whole week. I was smart enough to know to drink drink drink so my friend and I would take a gallon of icewater with us to camp each morning. At lunch time we'd refill our jug with icewater for the afternoon. I believe we were the only 2 kids who did not have serious heat stress that week. We didn't have to take anyone to the hospital, but there was quite a bit of heat exhaustion going on. That is probably one of the few times in my life where I drank that much water each day. By the end of the week I felt like you could squeeze the water out of me. I certainly never did THAT again... but you're right... drinking water - plenty of water and electrolytes - is essential when you are exercising in the heat. Thanks for the reminder. Even here in AK this summer we need to remember to hydrate because it has been HOT!

MNS

I was stationed at Fort Bragg for part of my time in the Army. I didn't much care for the summers; I much prefer the Arizona triple-digit summers. As I recall, I didn't like Fayetteville all that much either.

I'm at Fort Sam Houston right now for AIT, we had a soldier die two weeks ago after his/her PT test. We were told they had been drinking energy drinks. This happened in the early morning mind you when it is reasonably cool like 76 degrees. The temperature has been 100 or greater for a number of weeks now...if you don't drink water you die nothing else can substitute H2O. O yeah Texas is great so much that I can't wait to leave maybe I'll go to Alaska.

The water requires electrolytes. Too much water and you'll die from swelling in the brain. Electrolytes allows the body to keep its water distribution in equilibrium.

MNS

Just curious...If a person's body requires electrolytes, what did they do before these special fitness drinks were invented?.
People have been drinking just water for a long time.

All those people that drank only water a long time ago all died. I believe it was DHMO poisoning.

Kidding aside, midnight sun is correct that the water needs electrolytes.

What she failed to make clear is that the electrolytes do not need to be in the water, but only available within the body, whether from food or from existing body chemistry. Fancy sports drinks are just a way of packaging the electrolytes in the same bottle as the water. That's a convenience, not a requirement.

You get your electrolytes from your food.

I drink water when hiking. I also make sure I have salty and electrolyte rich snacks with me and that I am eating the same
along with drinking water.

3 days hiking for me usually ends up with large salt crusties on my shirt and hat - ample evidence that I'm kicking out lots
of salt and other goodies in my sweat. (and time to jump in a creek/lake and wash up so I'm not so funky)

Yes, I didn't make clear that electrolytes don't need to be in the water. It is easier when they are, though, because just relying on food, if you don't have the right food, or if the heat and exercise makes you nauseated, can make it difficult to get the right balance.

Potassium is important to supplement, but not quite as easy as sodium to get from salty snacks like crackers or nuts. Potato chips are actually an excellent source of both. When I exercise I crave potato chips. If I'm not exercising I don't eat them. Potatoes are high in natural potassium, and the salt replenishes the bodies sodium needs. Lightly salted potato chips are best.

Most people get nauseated hiking in the heat, though, which is why sports drinks can be beneficial. Just limit the sugar content. I believe I have posted recipes for homemade sports drinks in the past - an archive search would find those posts. After doing that research I bought a potassium chloride salt substitute that I keep in my kitchen. When I start feeling the effects of low potassium (which seems to be a problem for me) I'll add that to my food or drinks for the day. I also sometimes take a potassium supplement, but you have to be very very careful with potassium because too much can cause cardiac problems.

Along with sodium and potassium, calcium and magnesium are important electrolytes that need to be supplemented if you're not getting adequate amounts in your food. The body does obtain these instrinsically (from bone) when needed, but having them available from food or drink helps speed up their distribution to the body.

Alternating sports drinks with water is one option for maintaining electrolyte balance while exercising. Carrying food high in natural sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium are a good way to fuel your body's needs while you're resting (i.e. in camp, not exercising, and hopefully no longer nauseated).

MNS

I just realized this poster said the soldier who died was drinking ENERGY drinks, which is not to be confused with SPORTS drinks. ENERGY drinks are high in caffeine which is a diuretic. It is aso a cardiac stimulant, so combining heat with exercise and caffeine with no water is clearly a lethal thing to do. The heart rate will elevate because of the exercise, the heat and the dehydration. After a while it won't be able to keep up. Prolonged rapid heart rates can be fatal because the heart is a muscle, and just like other muscles, when it runs out of the free glycogen (sugar) from the blood it will draw stored glycogen from the muscle tissue, and it will produce lactic acid in the process. The lactic acid causes classic chest pain, which is the body's way of saying "Dude! Give me a break!" If you exercise through chest pain (which a young person might do) eventually the heart will arrest because there's nothing left to fuel it's activity.

MNS