Hot-weather work

[Tree Machine]

The electrolyte thing IS overhyped. Most fruits, esp. oranges and bananas have plenty of potassium. Sodium and potassium are everywhere in foods. Sodium and potassium are in regular drinking water. Steam distilled water has no electrolytes whatsoever.

I am a big fan of the camelbak, have been for over a decade. I consider it on of my 'secret weapons'. Summertime apprentices with me are required to have one.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I use the polymer bandanna. I keep two of them in a dedicated ice cooler and rotate them throughout the day. They really do lower your core temp.

 

[Tree Machine]

The real benefit is you can drink WHILE you work. While making big cuts, or feeding the chipper you just keep the tube in your mouth and sip slowly. It's never in the way. If you fill it with ice water, there's a big cool spot in the middle of your back up to your neck. It creates a big wet zone on your back, but if you're sweating, your entire back is a wet zone. If you go shirtless, the shoulder straps will chafe the front of your shoulders raw

I don't do ice very well, I like my drinks ambient temp. The Camel allows you to go either way, depending on how dang hot it happens to be that day.

Keep an extra tube valve on hand. Sometimes they pop off, never to be seen again. Sometimes they just plain wear out. Throw the empty bladder in the freezer overnight to keep funky bugs from growing in it, and a mild bleach soak every couple weeks to keep the system sanitized.

Drinking BEFORE your thirst sensors demand that you drink has serious advantages in maintaining homeostasis and keeping yourself at top performance. You should ONLY use water in a camel. Any sugar and you'll invite fermentation and skank. Keep the sugar drinks in their jugs, in the truck or cooler.


No regrets there, buying one. I promise.

 

[vharrison2]

I use the polymer bandanna. I keep two of them in a dedicated ice cooler and rotate them throughout the day. They really do lower your core temp.

who sells the polymer bandanna?

 

[vharrison2]

finish early - go to the beach.

Welcome Bermie! Nice to have another girl here!!

 

[MasterBlaster]

who sells the polymer bandanna?

Wally World, or any sporting goods store.

 

[Koa Man]

I have one of those small pouches on my saddle that I stuff some loop runners and a 20 oz. bottle of Gatorade when in the tree. If I use it up and need more, I have the ground guys refill it.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Master Blaster and Kentucky Sawyer you are both wrong, not your fault, just conned by the marketing machine ... here's the facts ..

I never said a thing about Gatorade, Ekka.

What I said was that drinking too much water at one time, is bad... mmm kay. By that I mean that you'd be better off drinking only 8oz of WATER... waiting 15 minutes or so... then having another 8oz of WATER. As opposed to drinking a full liter of WATER in one shot. This large quantity of WATER all at once supposedly flushes some of those electrolytes out.

I don't drink any sports or soft drinks... too much sugar. Now sweet tea on the other hand...

 

[MasterBlaster]

For me, Ekka, the proof is in the pudding. No gatoraid? My legs and feet cramp up at night. Drinking G eliminates that.

 

[Ekka]

Kentucky

I was refering to excess water washing out the electrolytes, sorry if I confused you.

MB, yes the salts in the gatorade is what stops the cramping and the water rehydrates, however it is still not the best method ... other things like magnesium and chloride are also missing.

What is interesting is the minute amounts of salts available in the drink. If you drank 5L which is around 1.32 US gallons your getting 2.2 grams or 0.078 ounces of sodium.

Hmm, puts me on a project, it would be real easy to make up a cocktail that'll blow that gatorade out of the water. Just mix in a bit of magic powder with your drink and away you go. I suck on little tablet thingy's, I like the taste and I find I don't get the thirsty sensation I do from many of these sports sugar drinks. I also make sure I eat properly and have fruit every day.

 

[Koa Man]

Ekka,
You ever eat Chinese preserved seeds? Stuff like li hing mui or rock salt plum? Lots of salt in them. Most people in Hawaii like it. Maybe I should eat that and drink water??? Drinking Gatorade has stopped my hands from cramping up when doing a lot of coconut palms.

 

[Jim1NZ]

Interesting thread, i was competing in this triathlon not long ago, it was hot and i was on the final run, i grabbed a water at the last drink station took a few sips, not long after that i was cramping and then collapsed. The ambulance and me on electrolytes to keep the salts up, apparently lack of salts was the cause...

 

[newb]

Ive run a number a marathons and one of the things you do have to watch out for is drinking to much water. When you are sweating alot you are loseing alot of important nutrients. It is possible to overdose on water and die. Dont laugh, it is documented in Runners World magazine. For every glass of water you drink, you should drink a sport drink. There is a term for the condition and if you make fun of me I will dig through old mags and find it. Be safe, be smart. Pete

 

[Lumberjack]

Drink lots.
Sun glasses.

In a full day of work (10 billable hours) I can easily consume 3 gallons of liquid.

I wear superbs safety glasses to cut eye strain and feel somewhat cooler.

 

[hobby climber]

Back in the 80's, I use to do a lot of long distance cycling. The trick to it was "Eat before your hungry, Drink before your dry and Rest before you tire". I averaged between 80 to 110km a day, 6 days a week with no problems. Carbing up (carbohydrates) is also a good thing IMO. We have to realize that just because we are not body builders or athletes in the Olympics doesn't mean we can ignore our health and diet in tree climbing! Its just as demanding and requires physical endurance. Sure, many here have taken courses on how to care for trees, use chainsaws, prune, rig trees, climb etc etc etc, but how many of us have been taught anything about taking care of our health re diet and hydration, recognizing heat stroke or other heat related symptoms??? This is an excellent thread and will open up our eyes to another important issue that I think many of us ( self included), have been overlooking for far too long. Again..."EAT BEFORE YOUR HUNGRY, DRINK BEFORE YOUR DRY, REST BEFORE YOUR TIRED or YOU COULD FALL DOWN AND DIE" ! (My .02) By the way, a nice summer time drink to relax around the pool would be Gatorade with a little Vodka mixed in it! HC

 

[MasterBlaster]

I wear superbs safety glasses to cut eye strain and feel somewhat cooler.

What in the world does vision have to do with feeling cool?

 

[Xtra]

Arborwear Tec pants, a moisture wicking shirt like Under Armour with a cotton tee shirt, a bandanna around my head and a terry cloth sweat band in my helmet. Also a towel and a few extra tee shirts.

I might try a hard hat cooling liner, I think it's like those neck wraps. http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/view_catalog_page.asp?id=3470

Grapefruit juice in the morning and then Gatorade (they have a new lemonade flavored drink).

 

[P_woozel]

I prefer Squincher, or Gookinaid, both are far superior to Gatorade. But I found this out from a trainer on the shots some time ago, 5-6 of those little pretzels and a quart of water is more than satisfactory compared to gatorade.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Thanks for the link, Bob! I just ordered two!

 

[Xtra]

Welcome MB.
They also sell the terry cloth liners.
http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/view_catalog_page.asp?id=6957