The amount of water you need for camping depends on many things, temperature, your level of fitness, humidity, how much you exert yourself and more.
It’s important to realize that we can get our fluid requirements from the food we eat, as well as the fluids we drink. For instance, an orange is 87% water! Good sources of water are:
* Water
* Fruits & Vegetables
* Drinks, especially non-caffeinated ones like fruit juice
There are many different methods for calculating daily fluid requirements. A simple equation to figure your fluid needs is that for every pound of body weight, you need about half an ounce of fluid intake per day. For instance, if you weigh 160 lbs., simply multiply 160 by .5 to estimate your daily fluid needs in ounces, then divide by eight to estimate your fluid needs in cups per day, rounding up to the nearest full cup.
For example: 160 x .5 = 80 ounces; 80 ounces divided by 8 = 10 cups of fluid per day
0.5 ounces x Body Weight in Pounds = Daily Fluid Requirement in ounces
As you calculate out what your daily fluid requirements are, you’ll probably realize that it is close to that common recommendation of 8 – 12 cups per day.
Remember camping in hot weather and humid environments may lead to dehydration.
Watch out for the signs of dehydration such as:
· Fatigue or weakness
· Headache
· Muscle cramps
· Dizziness
· Vomiting
· High body temperature
· Dry mouth and skin
· Convulsions
If you notice any of these signs:
– Stop what you doing and get out the sun.
– Loosen or remove as much of your clothes possible.
– Sit down and rest.
– Take sips of water / sport drinks with electrolytes.
– Apply ice/cold pack wrapped in a towel to the skin to help cool the body off.
– If the symptoms get worse for medical help.
