3 Ways To Stop Ebola Infection…Today!

Hello Rescue Fans!   I’ve debated as to whether I should discuss Ebola from either a professional or lay person level or even discuss it at all.  Because of an experience I had where I walked into a contaminated bathroom that could have been an infectious problem, I decided it was definitely worth taking about.  In this episode, I talk about Ebola, it’s risks and how breaking the chain of infection through disinfection and barriers, it’s almost impossible to contract an infection.  My hope is that rather than simply re-discussing the same things you’ve been hearing about Ebola, I’ll help shed light on how to arm yourself with awareness, and the techniques required to stop an infection in it’s tracks.  I hope this helps.

Could You Survive Stranded In A Snow Storm?

After hearing about a couple getting stranded in a mountain pass off-roading and the driver dying while seeking help, I thought I should talk about key elements around surviving out in the cold.  People are often overcome by the cold simply due to lack of pre-planning, proper equipment and an adequate plan for survival until rescue help arrives.  If you’ve ever wondered what you would do if you were lost, stranded or overcome by the winter elements, be sure to watch this episode of RoyOnRescue.
In the meantime, remember at least these important points:

1.   Let people know where you are going and what route you’ll be taking…then stick to it!
2.   Dress with layers of clothing or have extra clothing available
3.   Bring warming agents like hand and pocket warmers along with extra blankets
4.   Bring extra food that can handle getting cold or even freezing like granola, nuts etc.
5.   Eat snow for hydration
6.   Bring GPS
7.   Bring Flare Gun
8.   Never drive with low gas tank
9.   If the roads are dangerous, maybe stay home or extend your vacation
10. Repeat steps 1 thru 9

Peace,

Roy, RoyOnRescue.com

Vomiting, Diarrhea And Dehydration, Oh My!

Some time ago, I received an emailed question asking if I could do an episode on Food Poisoning. 3 days ago, my little girl, 7, came down with symptoms that were really similar to that of Food Poisoning. After doing my own research and then calling the doctor, I thought it would be a great time to address this somewhat common and sometimes dangerous problem. Some of the suggestions given, are those that the Pediatrician gave me after my daughter had been unable to keep even a sip of water down for over 36 hours! She was pale, dry and if I’m not mistaken, it seemed like her eye sockets were indeed a bit sunken. She’s feeling better now going into hour 49 and is now holding down water, Gatorade, and a BRATY( Bread, Rice, AppleSauce, Toast, Yogurt)diet. I hope this helps anyone else who has been suffering with the flu or food poisoning. Remember, the leading reason people die from vomiting and diarrhea is due to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and organ failure. Don’t wait until the last minute to get advanced medical attention and if it seems like the person is becoming dehydrated, get help right away. Oh, and if you’re weak or dizzy, don’t try to drive yourself in to the hospital…that’s what 911 is for!

Best Wishes and God bless you as we enter into this most Holy season of Easter,

Roy Shaw, RoyOnRescue.com

Foods That Help Hydrate While In The Orient

A student wrote:

“My Husband and I will spend a month in Southeast Asia in January.  I am concerned that I will have issues with the hot, huumid climate.  We will only have air conditioning in the hotel and bus.  I have lightweight clothes, colling bandana, big hat, and know to drink lots of water.  Is there anything else I can do, such as eat certain foods, ie, salty snacks, boullion, etc.?”

Well this is a great question!  After a little research I’ve got great news.

It turns out that not only can you add one type of food to your diet, there are three types of food that will help you stay hydrated or rehydrate especially if you or someone you know is NOT a big drinker of water.  The following VideoBlog should help answer this question and at the bottom of this post, I’ve included the source where I found some helpful information on different foods that help you stay or get better hydrated.

I hope this helps and thanks for sending the question.

Have fun in Southern Asia and let me know how it went when you get back.

Zai Jian(Goodbye)

Roy

royonrescue@gmail.com
Tweet: @royonrescue

Foods That Hydrate

Is Milk or Water Better For Treating Dehydration?

I received an email today asking if milk would be just as effective as water for rehydrating a two year old after they’ve been in the heat and lost fluids.   The research I found was eye-opening.

Here’s my reply to the email. The name and personal information was deleted for personal privacy.

Thank you for your question.

My original hunch that water is still the best home remedy for replenishing vital lost fluids still seems to be the general consensus for most medical professionals(Source).  But there is an interesting study that was done in the UK where skim-milk was used for re-hydration and the study revealed that based on urine output, the skim milk may have been better absorbed than any other liquid.(Source)

There was a study that showed that milk did not replace fluids as well as water because of the fat content found in all milk.  Probably why the above study calls for skim milk instead of 2% or Whole Milk.  Skim is the lowest fat content of all the options.

Let’s take a look at what the study found.

“It is likely that the presence of sodium along with a relatively large quantity of potassium (approximately 45 mmol/l) in milk accounts for the effectiveness of milk at restoring fluid balance following exercise-induced dehydration,” they said.

“The results suggest that milk is more effective at replacing sweat losses and maintaining euhydration than plain water or a commercially available sports drink following exercise-induced dehydration by approximately two per cent of initial body mass,” added the researchers.

“Given that hypohydration results in an increase in cardiovascular and thermoregulatory strain, and a reduction in exercise capacity in the heat, it is important to ensure that fluid losses accrued during exercise are replaced prior to the performance of a subsequent exercise bout,” they concluded.

Commenting on the research, Judith Bryans, director of The Dairy Council, said: “This study joins the growing volume of literature which suggests that skimmed milk is a natural and effective post exercise recovery aid. Drinking milk is not only a valuable way to re-hydrate the body but also provides an excellent source of energy, protein and a vast array of different vitamins and minerals essential to the good health of hardworking sportspeople and the population as a whole.”

In the UK, semi-skimmed, or half-fat milk, now accounts for 60 per cent of total milk sales. Skimmed milk is also growing in popularity, now accounting for a further 14 per cent of the total.

Source: British Journal of Nutrition
Volume 98, Pages 173-180
“Milk as an effective post-exercise rehydration drink”
Authors: S.M. Shirreffs, P. Watson, R.J. Maughan
What’s important to remember in all of this is that unless there is a situation where prevention is not possible, like being lost in the wilderness,  a plane crash, a disaster,  etc… prevention is the way to combat most of the de-hydration problems.  The goal is to have persons drink at least 8-12oz. of hydrating fluid every hour during hot temperatures and during exertion and replace what we lose whenever needed.

In order to recognize the symptoms of dehydration we should probably take a look at some of the symptoms.

Mild to moderate dehydration is likely to cause:

* Dry, sticky mouth
* Sleepiness or tiredness — children are likely to be less active than usual
* Thirst
* Decreased urine output — fewer than six wet diapers a day for infants and eight hours or more without urination for older children and teens
* Few or no tears when crying
* Muscle weakness
* Headache
* Dizziness or lightheadedness

Severe dehydration, a medical emergency, can cause:

* Extreme thirst
* Extreme fussiness or sleepiness in infants and children; irritability and confusion in adults
* Very dry mouth, skin and mucous membranes
* Lack of sweating
* Little or no urination — any urine that is produced will be dark yellow or amber
* Sunken eyes
* Shriveled and dry skin that lacks elasticity and doesn’t “bounce back” when pinched into a fold
* In infants, sunken fontanels — the soft spots on the top of a baby’s head
* Low blood pressure
* Rapid heartbeat
* Fever
* In the most serious cases, delirium or unconsciousness

Unfortunately, thirst isn’t always a reliable gauge of the body’s need for water, especially in children and older adults. A better barometer is the color of your urine: Clear or light-colored urine means you’re well hydrated, whereas a dark yellow or amber color usually signals dehydration.

Treating severe dehydration
Children and adults who are severely dehydrated should be treated by emergency personnel arriving in an ambulance or in a hospital emergency room, where they can receive salts and fluids through a vein (intravenously) rather than by mouth. Intravenous hydration provides the body with water and essential nutrients much more quickly than oral solutions do — something that’s essential in life-threatening situations.
Source

Now that we know what dehydration looks like and the best way to treat it is to prevent it, how much water might be needed to prevent dehydration?

Let’s take a look.

Different Bodies, Different Needs
There are a multitude of factors that impact a person’s individual fluid needs – from concrete factors like age, weight, height, and genetic make-up, to more variable aspects like overall health, and environmental conditions. Given these differences, it is not hard to believe that each of us may have our own personal fluid requirement. So, while some people may in fact need eight glasses of water every day, chances are most do not. But, brace yourself – there is a very good chance that some of us actually need even more.

Eight is Just an Estimate
So, if eight isn’t the magic number for water needs, how do we actually know what we should be drinking? Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy answer. This is likely why the “8 x 8 rule” has been so popular simply because it made an otherwise complicated issue a little easier to manage. However, after careful review of the scientific literature, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania recently determined that there was no real basis for such a general recommendation. Regardless, given the fact that the average adult loses around 10 cups of water daily through their breath, sweat, feces, and urine, along with the estimate that most people meet 20% of their fluid needs through food; drinking 8 cups of water seems to be a pretty reasonable guideline. Still, it is just that – a guideline. Additional guidelines established by the Institute of Medicine take into account all beverages (including juices, coffee, tea, etc.) and suggest that men should drink approximately 13 cups of total fluid and women should drink around 9 cups of total fluid every day. Wow! And you were overwhelmed by 8?

Your Body Will Tell You What You Need
It is all a bit confusing. But, the good news is that your body does provide some clear indicators of what is best for you. Thirst is an obvious sign that your body needs more fluids, and a clear warning that you need to drink. But it isn’t always the most sensitive indicator, especially for older adults whose thirst mechanisms are not as sharp. This means that some older individuals don’t truly become thirsty until they are near dehydration. This can be dangerous because it is easier to prevent dehydration, than to try to catch up on fluids when you are already running low. A better means of assessing your fluid intake is through the color of your urine, with clear or pale yellow urine indicating a healthy fluid balance, and dark yellow or amber urine indicating dehydration. Another way of assessing your hydration status is simply by how you feel. Thirst, dizziness, confusion, fatigue, fever, and dry mouth are all symptoms of dehydration.

Water Works Wonders
You might be thinking, “What’s the big deal?” This seems to be a common response for most people, as we often take water for granted. That is of course until we are at a ball game or an amusement park, feeling parched, and our only option is to buy a four dollar bottle of water. Then, we realize just how valuable water can be! But, its value goes well beyond the amount that we shell out per bottle. The real wonder comes from all of the essential roles that water plays in the body including aiding with digestion, elimination, blood flow, and temperature regulation just to name a few. If you are not well hydrated, your body can’t work as efficiently, and you simply won’t be at your best.

Tips for Meeting Your Daily Water Needs
Although determining your fluid needs can be a bit of a challenge, actually meeting them doesn’t have to be. Here are a few tips:

* Fill a pitcher with 6-9 cups of water (based on you own personal needs) every night before going to bed and put it in the fridge to chill. When you wake up, start you day with a big glass of cold water, and continue drinking from the pitcher throughout the day until it is gone.
* Add slices of citrus fruit to your water (lemon, lime or orange) to give it a little extra flavor with no extra calories.
* Eat juicy foods like fruits and vegetables including melon, grapes, tomatoes, lettuce, and squash.
* Dilute juices and soda with 25% water, gradually increasing to 50% water as your taste buds adjust.
* Cool off beverages like coffee, lemonade, or tea with lots of ice cubes.
* Limit alcoholic beverages because they are diuretics and actually increase your fluid needs.

When the heat is on, make water your first choice. Instead of worrying about how many cups you should be getting, pay more attention to how you feel. By drinking regularly and staying ahead of thirst, you are sure to get the amount that is just right for you, no debate about it.
Source
References

* Dan Negoianu and Stanley Goldfarb. Just Add Water. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2008; 19: 1041-1043.

* Mayo Clinic Staff. Water: How much should you drink every day?  MayoClinic.com. April 19, 2008. retrieved 7/21/08 LINK

* Mayo Clinic Staff. Dehydration. MayoClinic.com. Jan. 3, 2007. retrieved 7/21/08 LINK

Well John,  I hope this helps.  As we move into the warmer months I’m sure that we will all need to remember some these tips on recognizing, treating and preventing dehydration.  And by the sounds of it, if you want to give your two year old skim milk because they like it more, and then follow that up with water, it appears that some research actually allows for that too!

Thanks for the great question and go fourth and rescue!

Best wishes,

Roy

Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke

In this RoyOnRescue, I reply to a question a student emailed me about how to recognize heat exhaustion and heat stroke and how to treat both.   If you ever wondered if a person was just “over heated” or if they might be in danger of suffering a life threatening heat stroke, you will want to watch this video blog reply.

In some parts of the country it doesn’t feel very hot but don’t be fooled…Summer is just around the corner.  Be ready and don’t allow you or someone you love to become a victim of Heat Stroke!