Hydration

I have thought to write about this before, but honestly it is one of those things that I think I have done, but cannot find evidence that I have done.  If this is a duplication, then please forgive me, especially if I expressed myself better in a previous blog.

Lubbock, Texas is considered a semi-arid region, but when the temperature climbs into the 90's and 100's, who are we kidding: this is the desert, especially in the years when the rains are below 15", our "average rainfall," which happens quite frequently. Of course, I have lived in Lubbock since 1977, and in the early years, the emphasis on human hydration was minimal, but has especially increased in the last 10 or so years.  As we learn more and more about bodily functions, we learn more and more about the need for hydration.  However, in the nutrition classes I attended in college in the early 1970's, and perhaps, even in junior high and high school, we knew to drink at least 8  8 oz glasses of water a day, minimally. That has been a standard for quite some time.

A few years ago, I visited family in Phoenix, Arizona in June or July.  I was impressed that in the downtown area, around commercial buildings where pedestrians are expected, they had "hog misters" or hoses that misted the area to help keep pedestrians cool. 

The first time I had experienced "hog misters" in a commercial setting was when I was married to Lisenby, and we made a trip to San Antonio.  We went to "El Mercado" and the area was repleat with "hog misters."  Of course, as with Phoenix, it was so hot that by the time you walked away from the areas affected by the misters, you were neither cool nor damp.

The other things about hydration in Phoenix that impressed me included that there were street vendors lined up along the pedestrian ways, selling ice cold bottled water, at reasonable prices. We went to an Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game at Chase Field http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/ari/ballpark/index.jsp, and  there were all sorts of ice water vendors.

Additionally, we went wandering throught the malls or stores or whatever they call them in Phoenix, downtown, and even the high dollar gift, accessory and clothing stores had small refrigerators near the cash registers. They sold cold drinks, predominately water, but sodas as well. A store of that ilk in Lubbock would have a large, unfriendly sign on the door that said "No food or drink."  I did not see that in Phoenix. It may exist, but I did not see that. Human safety prevailed over merchandise security, I hope.

This reflects the awareness of the importance of hydration of humans in the desert.  Accomodations such as air conditioning make desert living possible. What is so sad is that in the north and east, so many poor people do not have air conditioning, and surviving a heat waves is not possible.

Partly, that is due to their not knowing how to survive in the heat: increased fluids, moving air, ice buckets in front of fans, decreased activity, and seeking air conditioned buildings when their homes are not air conditioned.  But it is also in part due to their bodies not being acclimated to the heat. How can they be? This takes time and patience.

It is also due to their not having the resources to install air conditioning, or to seek an air conditioned venue, including because the heat has so weakened the person, they cannot reach out for help.

But ultimately, I believe hydratrion is the key.  I think humans need to consume at least 64 oz.of water a day, more if the temperatures are in the 90s and 100s, and more if they are working physically in heat of 80° or more.

They need to pace themselves, take plenty of breaks that include fluid consumption, and watch for signs of heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.  I think the reason these are not endemic problems in Phoenix compared to Chicago, is not because the poor in Phoenix necessarily have air conditioning (they may or may not) but because they understand how to survive the desert heat.

Ultimately, utimately, hydration is so important.  Seek shade. Seek moving air. And hydrate.