With the season well into spring, it's time to think about summer survival. A major danger in hot summer weather is heatstroke. Left untreated, it can be deadly.

Heatstroke usually begins with heat cramps. Heat cramps have symptoms that include excessive sweating, thirst, exhaustion and muscle cramps. It's easily treated by moving to a cooler spot, drinking fluids containing electrolytes, like most sports drinks and resting. Avoid fluids with caffeine or alcohol. If you don't treat cramps, you'll get heat exhaustion. Symptoms include nausea, headache, dizziness, cool moist skin and dark urine. Treat it the same way you treat heat cramps.

If you don't treat heat exhaustion, you'll get heatstroke. Your body temperature will climb to 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, you'll stop sweating and you may experience hyperventilation and a rapid pulse. As your brain heats up, you could have seizures, pass out, hallucinate, or become confused. Your over-heated muscles, cramping in the early stages, can become either stiff or limp. Shock is a frequent complication of heatstroke.

Since heatstroke can be caused by extreme ambient temperatures, extreme physical activity, or both, it's not uncommon in people who are hiking or rock climbing, especially in the desert southwest. Avoid it by taking a few simple precautions.

First, don't wear too much clothing. Stick to loose fitting shorts or lightweight pants like these, that provide protection from the sun and can convert to shorts in camp. Lightweight loose polo shirts or a buttoned cotton shirt that provides ventilation will help you stay cooler. Stick with cotton socks that can wick moisture from your feet, and your choice of light hiking boots, and your feet will stay cool. Use sunscreen, and apply it often through the day to all exposed skin.Wear a lightweight hat to protect your head and eyes from the sun.

Try a backpack like this one. The straps vent air away from your body, it carries two 32 ounce water bottles, and has a hydration sleeve for a 3L bladder. Make sure you drink often. Fill a portable cooler cube with sports drinks for anyone who starts feeling heat cramps. Make sure your camp has a shady area and is near a water source, and make sure you have a water filter.

Pay attention to your body to survive. If you feel heat cramps, avoid heatstroke by finding a cool shady place to rest and drink.

(Sources: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heat-stroke/DS01025,http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heat-exhaustion/DS01046 http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/heat-stroke , http://firstaid.webmd.com/heat-exhaustion-and-heat-stroke-treatment )

One of the most important things to take with you into the wild, if not the most important, is water. You can survive for days or even weeks without food. Without water, you may not even make it two days.

Make sure you're completely hydrated before you start your trek or ride. Our bodies aren't very good at letting us know when we need water; in fact, by the time you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated, so drink while water is available. If you note symptoms of dehydration, like confusion, weakness and a general slowing, rest in the shade and drink.

Carry a day pack that holds up to 3 liters but be aware that amount won't last you much more than half a day if you're exerting yourself in an arid environment. Consider carrying a hip pack below your backpack for longer trips and plan your trip around water sources, which are usually marked on USGS maps.

If your trek is planned for several days, you won't be able to carry enough water with you. Add things like water purification tablets and a good filter to your pack. Most available hydration packs have PureFlow TM technology, but while that may take care of most "common bacteria and fungi," it won't help with the Giardia and other parasites found in outdoor water supplies. A purification tablet in a liter bottle of water from a stream should take care of those.

If you can't find a stream, look for trees and a dry streambed near them. Carry a collapsible shovel in your pack and dig into the streambed; you'll probably find water less than 12 inches down. No trees? Look for succulents, like prickly pear cactus or agave. A multi-blade knife allows you a variety of tools to cut off pieces of these plants, pull out spines and peel off the skin, so you can suck the moisture from the interior of the plant. Vegetation and berries can provide moisture; dried foods just increase dehydration.

Want to be a survivor? Use these tips to stay hydrated - and alive.

Source:
www.survivaltopics.com/survival/how-long-can-you-survive-without-water