Hydration

Arbee · Post by **Arbee** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:19 pm

[align=center]HYDRATION. IS. IMPORTANT.[/align]

Seriously, guys and gals, even if you already know this, it's worth bringing up again. It is important to hydrate yourself regularly, even if you're not participating in the wonderful and exciting sport of AirSoft.

I was thinking about it today while I was taking pictures of myself (I'm lame like that) for profile pics, a sig, or something, and I wanted to pass it on. The human body can go for weeks without food, but it can only go a few days without water.

I recommend getting a hydration pack for games. The most popular of these are the Camelbaks, which are made for both civilian and military. If you don't want the extra weight on your back, at least carry a canteen.

Before I got kicked out of the National Guard for being fat and slow, I had the dubious honor of witnessing one of my fellow soldiers try to go through PT without water. The sucker dehydrated, fainted, and crapped himself. He would have died if not for the quick action of two medics, who managed to find some saline and rigged up an intravenous injection.

Long story short: DRINK UP!

[align=center][img width=455 height=469]http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu11 ... ear015.jpg[/img][/align]

*This message sponsored by the Organization for Not Passing Out and Soiling Yourself and Ruining Everyone Else's Fun*

Bushmaster · Post by **Bushmaster** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:40 pm

Sounds like you knew someone who was not the sharpest knife in the drawer, one fry short of a happy meal, not the brightest light in the galaxy, not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Post by **SteevoLS** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:45 pm

IMHO a hydration pack is vastly superior to a canteen; at the last Blue Hole game I attended I drank 6 or 7 liters of water but never actually felt thirsty. Since I had a hydration pack, I just took a sip every minute or so; you can't really do that with a canteen.

Arbee · Post by **Arbee** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:47 pm

I'm of the same opinion, mate, but even having a canteen--or a supply of water somewhere other than back at the staging area--can mean the difference between a fun weekend and a trip to the emergency room.

If you think about it, in fact, it would be a good idea to carry some alcohol wipes with you in your kit, so that if somebody goes down and needs water right away, you can sanitize your mouthpiece, get some water in 'em, and get them off the field. In emergencies, of course.

And for those of you out there who don't have a means to replenish your fluids, don't go out there expecting somebody to be your water truck. Like it or not, you are responsible for your own safety. It's nice to know that the guy beside you has your back, but he shouldn't have to be your babysitter.

Esteban · Post by **Esteban** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:29 pm

Dump some Gatorade into your hydration pouch and it'll be awesome.

Arbee · Post by **Arbee** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:31 pm

Haha, I don't recommend mixing gatorade into your hydration pouch, as it can leave residue in the bladder and tubes. And definitely don't use it in a canteen, because anything you drink from that canteen after that will have the aftertaste of piss.

6mmSilver · Post by **6mmSilver** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:40 pm

Thanks for posting this Arbee; I am sure the Noobz will appreciate it very much.

As for me, I gots a Camelback.

Arbee · Post by **Arbee** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:51 pm

It's no problem, bud. The last thing I (and I think any of us) want to see is somebody dehydrate, especially since our fields tend to be way out away from hospitals and the likes. It's important.

I know that the military-grade hydration packs can be expensive, but there are plenty that are made for civilians (in fact, mine is a black civilian Camelbak, which I got for $25.00 at the Army-Navy store in Columbia) that are cheaper. Mine works extremely well, except for the bright blue mouthpiece. Gonna find a way to cover that eventually.

Post by **SteevoLS** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:30 pm

You can really put whatever you want in a hydration pack so long as you know how to clean it. I know of a guy who has had Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Budweiser, and water in the same pack with no ill effects.

Fill your hydration pack with the hottest water you can manage and then add a few teaspoons of baking soda; let that sit overnight, and then rinse it thoroughly. Not only will that disinfect it, it also completely eliminates the taste and odor of the previous liquid. After that, don't bother drying it out. Put the hydration pack and tube in the freezer until your next game. Mold and mildew don't really grow in the cold.

Arbee · Post by **Arbee** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:49 pm

Haha, I actually found and opened mine up after about a year. Little soap and water, and it's fine, fresh as the day I bought it...

Esteban · Post by **Esteban** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:19 pm

Don't bother trying mashed potatoes and gravy. It doesn't flow well.

Post by **SteevoLS** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:49 pm

I'm going to pretend I didn't read that.

cantttype · Post by **cantttype** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:59 am

This may have been addressed, but in the pic why do you have your "cat eyes" on backward?

Post by **SteevoLS** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:14 am

He originally didn't know what they were for. Now he's using them in the day for a nametape on the back of his helmet and using them at night for their intended purpose.

Arbee · Post by **Arbee** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:37 am

Correctamundo!

I would have rather had a band without the cat eyes, but what can you do?

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