As you probably know, a human can survive for weeks without food, but only a few days without water. Water is critical during a disaster and a major component of any preparedness kit. You might ask why water is so much more important than food? Water is used by the body for circulation, respiration and digestion.
In addition to the normal loss of water, our bodies are also affected by heat, cold and stress. Of these last three, stress would a constant companion during a disaster situation. Also, depending on the time of the year, we could be subjected to heat or cold. In short, we would not be in a normal situation if we were using our kits for survival supplies.
Dehydration
When our body becomes dehydrated, our blood thickens and our heart must work harder just to circulate it. Other symptoms of dehydration can include lethargy, headaches, loss of strength and confusion. This impairment of our abilities could be extremely critical in a life or death situation.
To avoid dehydration it is suggested that a person consume a minimum of 2 quarts of water per day. This recommendation is based on normal situtions and does not include any amounts we might need for food preparation or daily hygiene. Just remember, this is in a normal situation, not a survival situation. Read the rest of this entry »
