Please Drink More (water that is)

[Eboy87]

I was invited to spend the day with the audio department at the Muny today. Some of you on here know what that is, for the rest, it's an outdoor theater (a big outdoor theater) here in St. Louis. Well, the temperature today I'm pretty sure went up to 100˚ with the misery factor (heat index). I got there at 12:30 for the afternoon rehearsal and stayed until after the show, leaving about 11:15. During rehearsal, one of the other people on audio crew (I don't really know who as I didn't meet him) had to be rushed to the hospital with heat stroke.

Guys and girls, if you're outdoors working in the heat, drink water. If you feel a headache coming on, you're dehydrated and it's a bit too late to start worrying about that. Even if you don't feel thirsty, drink water. I went through 3 Nalgenes of water and 2 bottles of Gatorade. Your health comes first.

Just a friendly reminder from someone. If I wind up working with any of you, I really don't want to have to rush you to the hospital (I don't mean that the way it probably comes across).

EDIT: Oops, I meant to post this in the General Advice board. Dave, if you read this, is there a chance it can be moved?

[ruinexplorer]

As someone who has passed a kidney stone (which can develop from dehydration and often is compared to birthing pains), I heartily agree.
As part of my local union's dress code, we are always required to pants on work calls. When it's hot out, many people complain about this part of the code, but FWIW, beyond preventing minor injuries, wearing pants can also slow dehydration (clothes absorb the sweat and keep you cooler longer).

[waynehoskins]

A few years back I did a bunch of work with an outdoor theatre in Fort Worth. 100 degrees here isn't uncommon (in fact, today saw upwards of 100, I believe), even before the heat index is calculated. We all learned that water is a must. Or liquids of some sort. And that it's much easier to minimize the amount of in-the-sun-without-shade work you do in the heat of the day if you work more in the evening and morning.

The space was rather well shaded, quite a few old trees, and there were a few buildings on the property too, so every so often we'd take breaks in the shade or air conditioning or make a store run or something of the sort that would get us out of the sun.

For a fair bit of the season we also inherited a pet spider in the booth; he made his home right by the door. Harmless thing, thankfully. Fun stuff.

[soundlight]

Being an Eagle scout, I always carry my nalgene full of water, a first aid kit, a bag of essential tools (not just for theatre), any job-specific tools for the day, a full change of clothes and shoes, sunscreen, bug spray, Eucerin, gatorade powder, and a few small vittles (granola bars, etc) to outdoor gigs.

[DaveySimps]

Last summer I was working an outdoor music festival that lasted for two weeks. Each day was 14 - 18 hours long (no going inside until we got back to teh hotel each evening). It was at least 90 degreese, with high humidity every day. Even after forcing myself to drink water and Gatoraide, I still got heat stroke the third day, and could not mix monitors for the concerts that night. In the same week, 4 other crew members also got sick. When It came around again this month, we forced ourselves to drink even more, and noone got sick this year. We learned the hard way that you really do have to force yourself to drink, and that is not easy at times. It sneaks up on you, even when you think you are doing the right things to take care of yourself.

~Dave

[Grog12]

Water, Gatorade/poweraide/vitamin water and something with a small amount of salt in it, be it a granola/power bar or a very small amount of chips. Keep in mind that when you're sweating you're sweating out vital nutrients your body needs.

If you just chug water you're not doing yourself any good.

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by Grog12

...Keep in mind that when you're sweating you're sweating out vital nutrients your body needs...

As evidenced on me by the "salt" stains on my black shirts at work. At the end of a hard day, my shirt looks like ruinexplorer's avatar (except white on black). Comes right out in the wash, though. Does anyone else have this problem, or is it just my chemical imbalance? Too much, or not enough, salt in the diet?

[hillbillyfunk]

I've been doing outdoor venues since 1986 (started in concessions as a kid) and I can tell you the most important part of working outdoors is a hat! I wear a light fiber "Drivers Cap" because thinking in the shade is so much easier, if your brain gets hot you cannot use it correctly. I pour a lot of water over my head and neck, sometimes I use one of those "colol Neck" thingys from the truck stops. Don't drink ice cold water, there is the shock issue (thing ice cream headache) and it takes more energy to bring it up to 98F for your body to use it.


When I am loading out after dark in an outdoor venue (especially a rock show) my shirt is usually off unless it's too buggy, but I still suck the water down. It's often 90F with 90% humidity at night and the sweat doesn't evaporate... it's called "Gig Butt" and it sucks.

[soundlight]

Originally Posted by hillbillyfunk

When I am loading out after dark in an outdoor venue (especially a rock show) my shirt is usually off unless it's too buggy, but I still suck the water down. It's often 90F with 90% humidity at night and the sweat doesn't evaporate... it's called "Gig Butt" and it sucks.

I almost forgot one of the most important things on my list - Gold Bond powder.

[ruinexplorer]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

As evidenced on me by the "salt" stains on my black shirts at work. At the end of a hard day, my shirt looks like ruinexplorer's avatar (except white on black). Comes right out in the wash, though. Does anyone else have this problem, or is it just my chemical imbalance? Too much, or not enough, salt in the diet?

Yep, had the same problem. It gets more evident the more dehydrated I get. If I am plenty hydrated, it isn't so evident (by the way, many of us end up being dehydrated before we even go out to work). Nasty bit my Dr. always says: your pee should be clear, if it's yellow, you're not drinking enough.

Stay healthy.