On Water and Hydration and being prepared for your family's sake

rayra

Expedition Leader
Issues brought up in a recent topic wherein a member planned (plans?) a solo vehicle trip, family of 6 (4 daughters) on the Mojave Road in summer.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...-explorer-upgrades-for-mojave-road-and-others


And this fresh tragedy illustrating how easily things can go terribly wrong -


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Arizona man and grandson die of exposure/dehydration on day hike

An Arizona science teacher and his 12-year-old grandson were found dead after they went hiking in hot temperatures on an historic desert trail southwest of Phoenix, and the boy's efforts to save them failed, authorities said on Thursday.

The bodies of Thomas Gillespie, 63, and Robert Miller, 12, were found on Wednesday night by deputies near the small town of Gila Bend, said Officer Chris Hegstrom, spokesman for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

Miller was found about 1.5 miles from the trailhead, while Gillespie's body was some four miles further on.

"We believe that he left his grandfather to seek help and that's when he succumbed to the elements," Hegstrom said. "This is just a horrible thing."

Authorities believe Gillespie, who taught science at a high school for teenage parents in Tucson for the last 23 years, died from a medical emergency or from heat exposure, with temperatures in the area surpassing 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 Celsius) at the time.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/09/us-usa-arizona-hikers-idUSKCN0PJ2P120150709

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You want a fun adventure for your family. But it's your duty to prepare for emergencies. To take some reasonable steps to ensure your family's safety and health. So be aware of whatever conditions you are traveling in and into. You've GOT to have water. You're dead in a very short while without it, particularly in harsh desert conditions. Get some info on best hydration practices and desert survival. TEACH IT TO EVERYONE IN YOUR FAMILY. Bring the gear that makes it possible. Make that gear your top priority, ahead of comfort items.

These kinds of tragedies happen often and needlessly. Tale after tale of a 'shortcut' drive gone wrong, disoriented elders, clueless drivers, a family seeking a shortcut over a coastal range in winter (that one was particularly egregious, guy was a tech news geek and didn't have a damned GPS). People dead for a lack of preparedness for local / seasonal conditions, a moment's inattention and 2-3 bad decisions. Dead when they could have easily survived with little inconvenience. Be smarter.
 

91AzXJ

Adventurer
I used to do SAR in Maricopa County, AZ and you would not believe the number of people who require help due to not being prepared especially with liquids in the warmer months. They go out for a four hour hike in 110* heat with a 24 oz bottle of water and expect to have plenty when you need a gallon per hour to survive. Each time a search is required, it takes resources from other places and costs the tax payers a lot of $.
 

rayra

Expedition Leader
Another set of clueless / needless deaths, this time a French couple and their 9yr-old son, hiking some trail in White Sands. Mother falls ill from the heat, quits the hike to return to the vehicle. Father pushes on with kid. Ranger finds mom dead on the trail, finds father dead further on, child in severe distress. They had (2) 20oz water containers for the three of them. Hiking in White Sands NM in August.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/french-couple-dead-hike-mexico-child-rescued-32933583
 

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