The Importance of Water in a Survival Situation
When it comes to preparing for an emergency survival situation, it’s usually stockpiling food that people concentrate on. But you can survive without food far longer than you can without water.
You can last for up to three weeks, depending on the climate and what type of shelter you have if you don’t have food.
But you can only make it three days if you don’t have any water.
Since it’s essential that you have water in order to survive, it’s always best to make sure you have a supply on hand for when a crisis hits. But if you don’t, there’s no need to panic because there are multiple ways that you can find water both out in the wild and in your own home.
You need to consume 64 ounces of water on a daily basis. But there are other factors that can change how much water you need to drink day to day. Consuming 64 ounces is the minimum when factors are in your favor.
However, you’ll need more water in different conditions. If the area that you live in is unusually humid or if you have high temperatures where you are, then you’ll need more than the standard 64 ounces.
Your need can also change if you happen to have a higher altitude as compared to a lower one.
In an emergency situation, you’re probably going to be more active and maybe even traveling more. If you find yourself having to hike for awhile to get to a safe area, then you’re going to lose water through the physical exercise. Whenever you’re moving or working, your body’s need for water is more imperative.
The more active you are, the greater amount of water you’ll need. You might also need to have more water depending on what the weather is like. Under the hot sun, you’ll have a greater need than if you were walking under a gray sky filled with clouds.
Consider all of the factors when you’re figuring up how much water you’re going to need for yourself and your family. Without getting the water that it needs, your body does more than simply become thirsty.
Without the proper supply of water, your body can’t function properly. You won’t be able to function as well. Your body can’t break down food as easily and your organs won’t work as well.
In the first 24 hours without water, you’ll start to feel the effects. Your mouth will feel like you’ve stuffed it with cotton balls. You’ll experience a loss of energy and you’ll feel tired and sluggish.
You’ll have a thirst that’s uncomfortable. There won’t be as much urine produced as your body desperately tries to slow down water loss. Your skin will start to dry out.
You’ll develop headaches and feel lightheaded. As the dehydration progresses, the thirst will become almost unbearable. You may not be able to urinate at all. Your skin will appear to cling together if you do the pinch test.
Your eyes will have a sunken appearance. Your heart will start going into tachycardia. Your blood pressure will drop as the body continues to try to fight but by now, your organs are being overwhelmed by the lack of water and no oxygen is being transported by your blood cells because they can’t function to deliver what your body needs.
Hallucination can start to set in. Many people pass out from the lack of water at this point. If immediate re-hydration doesn’t occur, at this stage, the organs will shut down and you will die.
If you don’t have water on hand in an emergency situation, your first priority is to find some and then deal with any other needs you may have. Not having the right amount of water doesn’t affect everyone in the same way.
People who are older will succumb to the effects of dehydration quicker. So will people who have certain types of diseases. Young children and babies will not be able to survive as long as an adult can if they don’t have water.
You don’t want to put your life or the lives of your loved ones at risk – not when there’s a simple way you can avoid it. All you have to do is be prepared and spring into action the moment you recognize that there’s a need.
