| Dehydration is a life threateningcrisis faced | | | | weakness and thirstare some of the earlier |
| by many placed in a survival situation. In | | | | symptoms. Your skin will become less |
| order toprevent, treat, or otherwise deal | | | | elasticand mucous membranes will be dry(ex. |
| with dehydration one must know therisk | | | | inside your mouth and nose). You will have |
| factors, the symptoms, and the interventions | | | | sunken eyeballs that are feeling dry and |
| that must be taken. There are many people who | | | | scratchybecause of the lack of moisture |
| have died in the wilderness as a result | | | | required to produce tears. Yourpulse will |
| ofdehydration. Granted sometimes dehydration | | | | become weak and rapid. There may be a drop in |
| may not can be preventedbut having all the | | | | bloodpressure when you change from a lying to |
| knowledge you possibly can will ensure your | | | | a sitting or standingposition. You can also |
| bestchance of preventing and/or surviving it. | | | | feel the veins in your arm or neck that |
| | | | youcan normally feel to see if they are flat |
| The risk factors for dehydration aredivided | | | | or unpalpable. You may nothave all of these |
| into two categories. First you have the risk | | | | symptom but if you fall under the risk |
| factors thatare attributed to being unable to | | | | factorslisted above and have even one of the |
| retain fluids. Vomiting, diarrhea,excessive | | | | symptoms listed it may benecessary for you to |
| sweating, polyuria(excessive urination), and | | | | consider the fact that dehydration may |
| woundlosses(ex. Internal and external | | | | beimminent and the answer to the following |
| bleeding) would all fall under thiscategory. | | | | question what are yougoing to do to about it. |
| So as you can seeing being in an extremely | | | | |
| hot environmentis not the only survival | | | | These are just the fundamentals |
| situation where dehydration is a risk, | | | | ofdehydration. The risk of dehydration |
| whichis a misconception that many people | | | | transforms into a larger andmuch quicker |
| hold. You could be next to ariver and drink | | | | reality for many people. The people I am |
| contaminated water and get diarrhea, | | | | referring toare people who already suffering |
| resulting indehydration. The second category | | | | from an existing medical conditionthat |
| of risk factors are those relatedto | | | | affects the circulatory system and how their |
| insufficient intake of fluids. Examples of | | | | homeostatic mechanisms that control the fluid |
| these are inability toaccess fluids, impaired | | | | and electrolytes. A few examplesof diseases |
| swallowing(such as a swollen throat), | | | | or medical disorders that fall under this |
| andconfusion. Confusion may be a result of | | | | classificationare low blood pressure, |
| someone panicking and beingtemporarily out of | | | | diabetes, ulcers, Gastrointestinal |
| their sane mind. These risk factors are the | | | | bleeding,gastrointestinal disorder(ex. |
| onesyou will more than likely experience | | | | Irritable bowel syndrome), and sicklecell |
| during an extremely hotenvironment. | | | | anemia. |
| | | | |
| Recognizing the symptoms of dehydrationis | | | | Copyright ©by Joshua C. Henson. All rights |
| very critical to your survival. Feelings of | | | | reserved. |