In A Disaster, Remember To Listen To Your Body
If you ever find yourself in a disaster recovery situation, keep in mind to “listen to your body”. Whether you ride out a storm or evacuate and come back later, guess what? The mess will be there. August and September in south Texas aren’t fun for anyone that must work outside. Those that do work daily in the heat and oppressive humidity get somewhat acclimated to it. Others may have an inside job and spend very little time in the heat. The clean-up seems daunting at first, but always be sure you listen to what your body says. Take it easy. The debris isn’t going anywhere; trust me. Take breaks when needed, work at a steady slower pace, cool down when it’s necessary, and wear the proper clothing and sunscreen. It’s no fun having a sunburn on top of everything else.
Electrolyte Replacement Drinks and Pickle Juice
Electrolyte replacement drinks are invaluable in an austere environment when physical labor is required. Drinks like Gatorade or Powerade work well, but care must be taken not to drink too many in a day. There is a lot of sugar in those drinks, and when you have too many, diarrhea will ensue. This completely goes against everything you are trying to accomplish by drinking those drinks. A good rule of thumb is to use the 4:1 ratio. For every four waters (say 20 oz bottles) have one of those sports drinks. (I like the 12 oz versions). Don’t shy away from those drinks with sugar in them either, but use them in moderation. Most of the sports drinks are making a “lighter” version using artificial sweeteners.
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