Summer is Officially here!

I spent last week at the TXWG Lonestar Emergency Services Academy (LESA), taking the Mission Aircrew School. It is well worth your time to go through this course. You will refresh your knowledge, improve your skills, and become a better, safer pilot or mission observer. Two obvious safety items became apparent during the week: It’s hot and afternoon storms crop up out of nowhere.

Hydration – it is essential that you remain hydrated in and out of the plane. Always carry some extra water with you.

The effects of dehydration begin with thirst and progress to more alarming symptoms as the need for water becomes more intense. The initial effects of mild dehydration in adults appear when the body has lost about 2% of its total fluid. Some of these mild dehydration effects are often, but not limited to:

If the dehydration is allowed to continue, when the body experiences fluid loss of 5% the following more severe dehydration effects are normally experienced:

Be aware that these are not the only effects caused by dehydration, these are simply the most common. Effects of dehydration will differ from person to person because the body is a complex network of systems and everyone is unique. When these systems are disturbed due to loss of fluids there will be several common effects shared by most bodies, but there may also be unusual or unexpected responses depending on the particular person in question. Age also plays a part in the type of effects experienced due to dehydration.

A simple method for determining your general hydration level is to monitor your urine. Decreased urination is a sign of severe dehydration. Urine that is dark yellow is also a sign that you are dehydrated. A quick rule of thumb is to drink enough water that your urine is clear or very light yellow. Hydration should begin hours before taking flight. It gives your cells enough time to hydrate and to flush your system prior to departure. It also will mean you can drink less during flight for those who worry about water and duration of flight.

Too much water can also be a hazard because it flushes out essential electrolytes. Electrolytes are substances that become ions in solution and provide the capacity to conduct electricity. The balance of the electrolytes in our bodies is essential for normal function of our cells and our organs. Common electrolytes include sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate. The functions and normal range values for these electrolytes are important, and if an electrolyte is at an extreme low or high, it can be fatal.

Many of the commercial sports drinks replace this electrolytes. They now sell little packages of dry powdered sports drink that can be added to your bottle of water. This is a simple and ideal method of carrying electrolytes with you. Many people can’t tolerate full strength drinks like Gatorade, especially when already dehydrated. It is best to mix the drink with water at a 50/50 solution.

NOW TO THE WEATHER!

I have attached an excellent weather advisory from AOPA’s Air Safety Foundation that covers Thunderstorm avoidance and a Quick Card reference you can carry with you. With the gulf moisture and heat in Texas we are subject to many thunderstorms. We watched the weather radar closely last week and was amazed at how quickly thunderstorms can crop up out of nowhere. Please read the articles and brief your members.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer.

STEVE LAMONTE, LtCol, CAP

Grp2 Safety Officer