60th AMS offers body hydration tips

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sarah Jones
  • 60th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  "Lift those canteens up high, trainees. Drink until they're empty! Now hold them over your head and turn them upside down. If I see one drop come out of the opening of those canteens, you're going to be on your faces pushing Texas!"

Those of us who were lucky enough to go through basic training during the summer months remember how important it is to pay attention to the heat stress index flags and to hydrate.

Heat stress is defined as any thermal stress above normal body temperature applied to the body, primarily from the surrounding environment. It depends on environmental factors, such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind and radiant heat from the sun.

The body's exact response to these environmental conditions depends on physiological factors such as weight, physical fitness, age, alcohol consumption and acclimatization to the weather. These factors determine reactions to working in hot conditions, and it can be useful to learn other precautions to stay healthy and fit to fight.

There are many ways to prevent these injuries before they happen. First and foremost, hydrate. Without hydrating, the most physically fit people in the world can be prone to heat stress.

Hydration should take place according to light, medium and heavy workloads, not to exceed one quart per hour or 12 quarts per day. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring water is available within a maximum of 200 feet of a primary work area.

A worker can produce as much as 8 to 12 liters of sweat, so it is essential that water and salt intake be about equal to the sweat that is produced. To replace the loss of salt in the body, sports drinks are approved to be provided by workplaces along with water. Please see Air Force Manuel 10-101, for more information.

People conducting outdoor activities on particularly hot days should obtain information concerning the Heat Stress Index and follow preventive measures as follows:

-- Drink plenty of water [small amounts frequently throughout the day]
-- Wear loose-fitting clothes
-- Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages if engaged in strenuous activities
-- Be aware of heat injury symptoms and first aid for heat injuries
-- Slowly acclimate yourself to the California heat [up to 7 days]
-- Modify activity schedules to perform the heaviest work at the coolest time of day

The 60th AMS Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight starts monitoring the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature index when the ambient temperature outside reaches 85 degrees Fahrenheit. When the ambient temperature exceeds this temperature, Bioenvironmental Engineering monitors the WBGT index every hour.

The Heat Stress Index is reported to the base command post and weather, who report this information to other base organizations, as needed. Everyone on base has access to the most current WBGT index by calling the Heat Stress Hotline at 423-1609.

For more information on this topic, contact the 60th AMDS Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight at 423-5490.