No matter the season, it’s critical to stay hydrated. Whether the summer sun is blistering down or the winter chill is making you shiver, keeping up with your daily water intake is a must. Especially in the military.

It can be easy to forget to drink water throughout the day if you get busy and don’t feel the effects of dehydration. However, it’s possible to experience long-term dehydration, even if you don’t experience short-term symptoms, which can lead to complications and poor overall well-being.

How Does Dehydration Occur in Our Troops?

Water is a critical component in the human body since 60% of adult bodies are made up of water. Water helps flush toxins, aids digestion, lubricates our joints, and more. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to function.

Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluids than it takes in. Dehydration distresses the natural balance in our bodies. Military members can be more prone to dehydration when working outdoors, though other factors may contribute, such as a poor diet or a hot climate.

Military personnel are at greater risk of dehydration when they go without water for long periods while working outside or in high-intensity conditions.

For instance, many troops may be exposed to higher risks of dehydration in the following situations:

●Flightlines: Military personnel who work on flightlines work closely with aircraft. These areas are paved with asphalt and have no shade, making it more likely for working troops to experience dehydration and heat stroke.

●Training missions: Ruck marches and other training missions require military members to carry heavy gear while participating in physical endurance training. Some of these training scenarios can occur in warm, humid environments. It’s critical to have access to a water supply to prevent overheating and heat-related illnesses while training.

●Combat situations: Members of the armed forces who are deployed may experience combat situations where they have limited access to water, or they’re operating in tropical conditions. Having minimal access to fluids and working in hot, humid environments can make dehydration more likely.

These situations and many others can cause our troops to experience dehydration quickly if they don’t gain access to water. The longer someone goes without water, the more likely they’ll develop a condition called long-term or chronic dehydration. Long-term dehydration can significantly affect the body, contributing to lasting health problems and heat stroke.

What Are the Signs of Dehydration?

Knowing the signs of dehydration can help prevent worsening symptoms and ensure you have access to water when you need it. Some of the earliest signs of dehydration include:

●Dry mouth, eyes, or lips

●Dizziness

●Fatigue and lightheadedness

●Feeling thirsty

●Having darker urine than normal

You may notice these signs after losing only a small amount of fluid, so it’s critical to keep drinking on a consistent schedule Drinking water is even more important if you’re sweating or physically exerting yourself.

Some people don’t always present the symptoms of dehydration. You may not notice any symptoms until they become more severe or contribute to heat-related illnesses like heat stroke. You can prevent severe dehydration by learning how much your body needs and maintaining a regular drinking schedule.

How Much Water Should You Drink to Prevent Dehydration?

Generally, men need about 15.5 cups of water daily while women need 11.5. However, you may only require four to six cups of actual water if you get fluids from other sources, such as juice, tea, fruits, or vegetables. Ideally, your diet will help you achieve your total water intake requirements.

Consider these metrics a guideline to follow and the minimum. Different factors will influence how quickly you can dehydrate and how much water you need to drink, such as:

●Activity level

●Medications

●Existing health conditions

●Temperature and humidity

●Age

●Metabolism and diet

Military members may need to drink more water than the average person. Many members of the armed forces participate in intense physical activity related to their work. Sometimes, this work can occur outdoors. A combination of hot weather and heavy uniforms or gear can lead to dehydration in no time.

You should increase your water intake if you’re participating in physical activity. If your physical activity is particularly intense, you need to replenish both water and sodium levels.

However, you don’t want to wait until the end of the day to start hydrating. A few hours is often necessary to recover the fluids you’ve lost throughout the day. Starting in the morning is the best way to reduce strain on your body and reduce the risk of dehydration. Drinking in short and frequent intervals can help you effectively maintain hydration.

How Hydration Packs Can Help You Prevent Dehydration

You may want to stay on top of your hydration, but forget to grab your water bottle every morning you leave the house. Or maybe you’re always misplacing it at work or leaving it in your car. Once you’re off to work, you may be so busy that you can’t run somewhere to find a temporary bottle or won’t always have the opportunity for a refill.

Hydration packs eliminate these problems by including the hydration bladder inside. You can also store your daily essentials inside so it’s harder to walk out the door without the pack, such as your wallet and keys. Hydration bladders range in capacity, but the sizes generally span between one and a half to three liters. You can get all the water you need for your day with one or two refills, depending on what size you choose. Different factors will influence which hydration pack is best, including:

●Size: Hydration packs come in various sizes, some with large hydration bladders and plenty of storage space, or some with small bladders and minimal storage. Determining your needs can help you narrow down your options so you can make the best choice.

●Color: Military members have strict regulations for colors they can use. For example, Multicam OCP is limited to the Army, Air Force, and Space Force. Military Luggage Company stocks hydration packs and compatible tactical bags in various colors, including coyote, OD, black, and more!

●Applications: The situations where you’ll use your hydration pack can also help you make a choice. For example, if you’re going on a long mission or trek, you’ll likely need a larger hydration pack with a three-liter bladder and plenty of storage space. On the other hand, if you’re only going to be outside for part of the day, you could get away with a smaller pack with minimal storage.

Other Ways to Stay Hydrated While Serving Our Country

Don’t let yourself get caught up in work and forget to drink. You can use the following tips to help you replenish your fluids and feel healthier every day:

1. Start Strong and Stay Consistent

Starting your morning by drinking a glass of water kickstarts your hydration. You’ll likely feel more energized, and it will be easier to keep up with consistent drinking.

If you have trouble maintaining a consistent drinking schedule, you can use alarms and notifications to your advantage. Set alarms that indicate when you should drink a specific amount, or use notifications on your phone to encourage regular hydration.

2. Pay Attention to Your Body

Your body is one of the best indicators of your needs. Try to drink water as soon as you feel thirsty. Sometimes, thirst can be mistaken for hunger, so remember to drink water with your meals. Paying attention to your body’s signals is critical to staying hydrated.

3. Update Your Diet

Your diet can supplement much of your daily water intake requirements. Changing your diet or increasing certain food groups can help you feel healthier and more hydrated throughout the day. Some hydrating foods and drinks you can add include:

●Fruits

●Vegetables

●Tea

●Milk

●Smoothies

●Soups or broth

You don’t have to drink unflavored water to achieve hydration either. You can find flavor-infused water, which can help if you’re used to drinking sugary or carbonated beverages and have trouble switching to plain water.

4. Set a Goal or Create a Challenge

Setting a daily water intake goal can make it easier than going in blind. For example, if you want to drink eight cups of water, you can count this accurately until you achieve your goal. Without an objective, it can be harder to track how much water you’ve had and if you’re meeting the minimum intake requirements.

You can also create a personal challenge or compete with friends in your unit to encourage others to reach their hydration goals. An example of a challenge you can try includes marking daily goals on water jugs and competing to reach these goals by the end of the day with your friends. Friendly competition can increase motivation to stay hydrated and help others get involved in the habit of hydration.

Stay Hydrated With Hydration Packs From Military Luggage Company

Military Luggage Company carries hydration packs and backpacks with hydration bladder compartments to help members of the armed forces stay energized and healthy. We offer hydration packs from popular brands, such as Camelbak, Source Tactical Gear, Hydrapak, and Condor. Many hydration packs come with the storage capacity you need for your daily essentials and gear.

We also offer tactical backpacks compatible with hydration bladders to help you carry everything you need while replenishing your hydration levels. Browse our tactical backpacks and hydration packs, or contact us with any questions!