Tips To Avoid Heat Stroke?

[FIGJAM]

maybe. gotta lot to do in prep for brc. compulsive obssesive needs time to plan and build. but maybe..........

[dragonfly Jafe]

A silk wrap dunked in ice water, then draped on your body, does wonders in the heat of the day. Repeat as needed.

[Mojojita]

Stay wet - spray yourself with water or dunk your head. It makes a HUGE difference.

Drain your ice chest water into a tub and soak your feet - cools you off really fast.

[Playa Foot]

Piss clear. Drink enough non-caffeinated non-alcoholic beverages so that you piss clear urine.

[EmilyD]

Adapt to altitude before you go, if possible.
Don't drink alcohol.
Water.
Proper shade hat, hard to find really.

Take vitamin D.
Check your vitamin D level next time you see a doctor.
You may need more than the 1000 a day recommended now.

Pace yourself.

Stop all caffeine at least 3 days before altitude.
Don't resume until back at base.

Shade
Shade
Shade
Water

Sorry but there is NO FUCKING WAY I'm giving up caffeine! I'm sure I'm not the only one.

I've had altitude sickness before and it sucks. I live at sea level and I flew into Denver airport then we drove up to Estes Park in the Rockies. The first two days I'd start to wobble and almost faint every few hours and one of the locals would hand me a glass of water...it worked great. But...high altitude plus desert dryness AND heat are probably too much for a sea level dweller to adjust to all at once. That is why I'm going to bring electrolytes. Anyone got any tips on which ones taste best and deliver the most hydration?

[gyre]

According to the Olympic Training Center, it's the most important thing you can do to aid adaptation.
Caffeine screws up all the fluid balances in the body.
May not be the best thing to live with long term, for that matter.

And, to be clear, not getting altitude sickness is not adaptation to altitude.
That takes about six weeks, to generate enough red blood cells.
The more you can adapt, the more energy you'll have and the more time to have fun.

[TomServo]

Me? I'm in the South - we're hitting over 90, already.

Summer days average around 100 degrees, with 100% humidity.

Its a dry heat. Is normally hotter in the bay area during BM.

[gyre]

Its a dry heat...

Like a stovetop?

[EmilyD]

According to the Olympic Training Center, it's the most important thing you can do to aid adaptation.
Caffeine screws up all the fluid balances in the body.
May not be the best thing to live with long term, for that matter.

And, to be clear, not getting altitude sickness is not adaptation to altitude.
That takes about six weeks, to generate enough red blood cells.
The more you can adapt, the more energy you'll have and the more time to have fun.

Thanks for the info gyre but I'll take my chances. I'd rather avoid getting any migraines while I'm on the Playa if I can. Adding electrolytes will help.

[gyre]

If you're talking about caffeine withdrawal, when you get a headache (if you do), take just enough to alleviate the symptom.
Usually I'm fine after that.
The psychological withdrawal is the tough part.
Inhaling coffee fumes helps and there's decaf.

The severe headache is what convinced me to stay off it for good.
I went off it while I was on a morphine drip, thinking that would be a convenient time, plus there was the doctor's cautions about caffeine.
Made me forget all about surgery for a time.
Nothing helps that headache except caffeine.
Just enough.

You do know you lose the stimulant effect after addiction?
It's just maintenance and fucking up your fluid balances.

Once you're off it for awhile, you can get a buzz off of decaf (it's never caffeine free, just less).

[gyre]

Decaf coffee is never totally decaf.

Pop has it added, so it has to say.
Beware of coke products.
They caffeinate kiddie drinks.
Barg's root beer has caffeine.
Most does not.
Sunkist orange is full caff.
Most non-cola drinks are not.

I find a third of a can of coke is enough for the caffeine headache.
I decided I don't like taking anything that can hurt like that, especially with no stimulant effect.
It's all placebo after the first week.

[EmilyD]

Once you're off it for awhile, you can get a buzz off of decaf (it's never caffeine free, just less).

Yeah way back when I first started getting migraines the doctors took me completely off caffeine. I went almost 3 years without it and pretty much had headaches all the time. I felt so much better when I started using a small amount of caffeine every day again. But yeah, I definitely hear you about it causing fluid issues. The med I take for the headaches has caffeine in it. I have used the Coca Cola emergency remedy method a few times but still have to follow it up with one of my pills as quickly as possible.

[knowmad]

Blaspheme!!! You've all been reported to the BassMasterGenral, Really just wean yourself off caffeine just for the burn then go back to your heathen ways after post Playa Depression kicks in. coffee is your friend, just like taquilia and hookers named Lucy.

[OnceTheDustClears]

Give up my wake up coffee??!!
Hell no, that will never happen. That's the high point of my morning (when ever that starts).
I've been going for years and I always have coffee when I wake up.

Yep...hats, parasols, misters are a must, good ol' Gatorade...they all help.
And not being too energetic mid-day.
The only time I had a real problem with heat was after riding my bike out to the Temple mid-day to support a friend.

It took me hours to cool down.

[EmilyD]

Blaspheme!!! You've all been reported to the BassMasterGenral, Really just wean yourself off caffeine just for the burn then go back to your heathen ways after post Playa Depression kicks in. coffee is your friend, just like taquilia and hookers named Lucy.

Okay, let me get this clear, did you just propose I put aside my heathen ways BEFORE I go to Burning Man? WTF? Isn't that the whole point? LOL.

[ygmir]

Blaspheme!!! You've all been reported to the BassMasterGenral, Really just wean yourself off caffeine just for the burn then go back to your heathen ways after post Playa Depression kicks in. coffee is your friend, just like taquilia and hookers named Lucy.

Okay, let me get this clear, did you just propose I put aside my heathen ways BEFORE I go to Burning Man? WTF? Isn't that the whole point? LOL.

perhaps, he means you should switch to Pagan?........

just sayin'.............

[theCryptofishist]

Blaspheme!!! You've all been reported to the BassMasterGenral, Really just wean yourself off caffeine just for the burn then go back to your heathen ways after post Playa Depression kicks in. coffee is your friend, just like taquilia and hookers named Lucy.

Okay, let me get this clear, did you just propose I put aside my heathen ways BEFORE I go to Burning Man? WTF? Isn't that the whole point? LOL.

perhaps, he means you should switch to Pagan?........

just sayin'.............

But Ygmir, why is it you saying that?

[ygmir]

Blaspheme!!! You've all been reported to the BassMasterGenral, Really just wean yourself off caffeine just for the burn then go back to your heathen ways after post Playa Depression kicks in. coffee is your friend, just like taquilia and hookers named Lucy.

Okay, let me get this clear, did you just propose I put aside my heathen ways BEFORE I go to Burning Man? WTF? Isn't that the whole point? LOL.

perhaps, he means you should switch to Pagan?........

just sayin'.............

But Ygmir, why is it you saying that?

didn't you get one of these when you signed up?



It's under "Pagan responsibilities"..........

Juss doin' my job, Fishy........

[EmilyD]

didn't you get one of these when you signed up?



It's under "Pagan responsibilities"..........

Juss doin' my job, Fishy........

No, I got this:

[jcliff]

Irish decent here, and an Illinois flatlander and I've never had a problem in the Black Rock Desert.....and I do go out and explore during the day. A few tips: Acclimate to the dry conditions about 2 months before going. Although you may not realize it, you are probably dehydrated in normal life pretty often. A stress headache is most often due to poor hydration rather than stress. Start training yourself to drink a half gallon of water each day now, and a gallon of water each day by mid-July.

On the playa, before you have your morning coffee, chug 16 oz. of a weak electrolyte drink (watered down Gatorade or some such.) This makes your body better equipped to deal with the drying effects of caffeine.

All day guzzle water, not sips, good long pulls....even if you don't feel thirsty. If you feel thirsty you're in the first stages of dehydration. Save the alcohol for after the sun goes down.

Neutrogena makes a "Fresh Cooling Sunscreen (spf 45)" that really does cool the body. I used it my first year and loved it, and now I bring 2 extra bottles to use as a little gift spray for the sun slapped I run into on my travels.

[jcliff]

Sorry, one other thought. Although "Piss Clear" was the best newspaper on the playa, it's name is not the best health advice. It's possible to over-hydrate yourself (it's called water-drunkeness.) Your body needs a healthy balance of water and salts to make your nervous system (on-board electrics) work right. Your optimum playa pee should be a pale shade of yellow. Just so ya know :)

[gyre]

They actually mean clear, rather than cloudy, not untinted.

[LostinReno]

They actually mean clear, rather than cloudy, not untinted.

I've often pondered how do you know if you're pissing clear into the deep blue muck? Does one pee in a bottle first? Just sayin?

[theCryptofishist]

It's a guy thing, I'm sure. A lot easier to check the urine stream.

[gyre]

Easier to pay attention to how often you need to pee.
You can lose a lot of water to the air when you're active.

But if you go five hours and only pee a little bit, probably need more water.

[ygmir]

good point, Gyre.............

yeah, checking color might be tough, unless, you have a clear drinking cup.

[EmilyD]

Irish decent here, and an Illinois flatlander and I've never had a problem in the Black Rock Desert.....and I do go out and explore during the day. A few tips: Acclimate to the dry conditions about 2 months before going. Although you may not realize it, you are probably dehydrated in normal life pretty often. A stress headache is most often due to poor hydration rather than stress. Start training yourself to drink a half gallon of water each day now, and a gallon of water each day by mid-July.

On the playa, before you have your morning coffee, chug 16 oz. of a weak electrolyte drink (watered down Gatorade or some such.) This makes your body better equipped to deal with the drying effects of caffeine.

All day guzzle water, not sips, good long pulls....even if you don't feel thirsty. If you feel thirsty you're in the first stages of dehydration. Save the alcohol for after the sun goes down.

Neutrogena makes a "Fresh Cooling Sunscreen (spf 45)" that really does cool the body. I used it my first year and loved it, and now I bring 2 extra bottles to use as a little gift spray for the sun slapped I run into on my travels.

Thanks for these great tips jcliff! Why are you recommending a watered down electrolyte instead of full strength? Just wondering.

[pntball727]

on the same boat with fire moose here...I am a bit north west of phoenix, 90 degrees is not hot to me, but for those coming from other parts of the US make sure you are drinking a lot of water. resting when you feel tired, dont over work yourself. i am personally seeing BM as a means to escape the real heat of phoenix in august at the average of 100 to 120 daily. just have to stick with resting and keeping yourself cooler, maybe try to even keep yourself cooler by wearing lighter weight and light color clothing during the day. you wont notice your sweating until its often too late, so keep the water consumption up and you should be fine.

[Ugly Dougly]

How did they live without coffee in the olden timey days?

During your first day on-playa, you'll drink water by the gallons and not pee until your body realizes where you are. That may take a day. I think that electrolytes help with this.

You could probably hit the sauna every night for a few weeks before you ship out. Might help a bit.

[gyre]

In direct sun, clothing that covers is cooler.
The desert nomads know what they are doing.

Remember you can burn through thinner clothing.

Too much of even the good electrolytes can make you sick.
Most are pretty off from what they should be.

I actually like the cirrus stuff.