The Wild Side for June 28, 2009

• By JOE MACALUSO
• Advocate Outdoors writer
• Published: Jun 28, 2009 - Page: 18C

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Oh boy, we’re finally getting a break from two weeks of blistering heat.

Come Monday, the afternoon’s temperature is going to hit 93. What a break! But, it’s not 99 degrees.

Considering this still intense heat, an all-day fishing trip should be a low priority because heat-related problems could erase any, and maybe all future fishing plans.

Even though the heavy heat is gone for now, it’s still send-you-to-the-hospital hot.

Several years ago, “Medicine for the Backcountry” came from Buck Tilton and Frank Hubbell.

“The guiding principle is to stay well hydrated,” the book states. “Do not rely on your thirst mechanism to tell you when and how much you need to drink. Under conditions of exertion, it is probably impossible to drink too much water.”

That’s why physicians and physiologists stress that hydration should begin one or two days before a trip.

That’s especially important if you’ve got children along. Make sure they follow your lead. Because of smaller bodies, their capacity to hold water in their tissues is limited. Make sure they take fluids before the trip.

On summer days, make it mandatory that youngsters drink at least four ounces of water every 15-to-20 minutes.

Limiting exposure should be part of the plan, too. Take to the water in the early hours, come off the water during the middle of the day, then, if you need more, head back in the late afternoon.

There are other helpful tips to add to this list:
■ Fluid replenishment begins in the morning. Add juices (not fruit punch) to your diet. Because coffee and tea are diuretics, you should limit their intake.
■ When you drink water, it helps if it’s cold water. Cold or cool water in your stomach will cool an artery running near your stomach, thereby cooling your blood.
■ Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Melons, peaches, pears, nectarines and mangos are great sources of fluids and fiber. Carry grapes in your ice chest. Cold grapes are a great way to cool your body during a day’s fishing.
■ While a cold beer can taste very good on a hot day, do not use beer as a substitute for water. Because alcohol inhibits your body’s ability to cope with high-heat situations, alcohol can be deadly on a hot day.
■ Experts insist water is best and say the fluid-replacement drinks on the market are good, but warn that some people’s metabolism may not be able to handle the salt content in those products. Carbonated drinks are OK, but don’t provide the thirst-quenching ability of water and, because of the sugar content, make it more difficult for the body to assimilate.
■ Replacing potassium is a real need. Bananas and baked potatoes are high potassium sources.
■ Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. This helps remove the perspiration from your skin, which, in turn, helps cool your body. This includes socks.