If someone wants to judge you as less a man because you fell out of the ranks, rather than have a heat stroke, I say to the blazes with them.

This is suppose to be a hobby and everyone should derive pleasure from it. If you are standing there about to pass out, I think you've missed the point. Remember there will always be other events and falling out should not be considered a big loss, unless you've spent $1000 to be a three month enlistee only.

Here's some tips for surviving the heat and humidity. I'm sure there are a lot more out there, so if anyone else out there has any

A standing soldier is much better than a hospitalized one, and only anal officers would ask for the regs to be followed on hot days.
If there are no deer ticks about, roll up your pant legs a little, and let the air come up your legs.
If you feel a need to wear a T-shirt, try a flannel shirt, it'll do the same thing, and be slightly lighter, and create a moisture barrier between you and your uniform. Trust me! (Besides T-shirts are tacky anyway!)

Drill us in the early morning, not at noon. Try it again just before dusk, if we need more. Check on your men, make sure every one can see two fingers and remember their names. Who says for drill you have to be fully uniformed, and carrying haversacks!!! If some Little General thinks we're unmanly, let the devil take HIM! When you go to put us at "in-place rest", look around for some shade, and put us in it. Know when to stop. Remember our gear is somewhat heavier than yours.
Plus you've got a group 98.6 bodies jammed up against each other.

In more ways than one, we can easily forget that our re-enacting is a hobby and nothing more. In the spirit of the hobby, we can sometimes forget that it may cost a life of one of our members.

Your perspective and feelings become acutely in focus when any re-enactor is rushed to the hospital. It is particularly awakening when it is someone you know. All aspects of the hobby fade away and a hard case of reality sets in.

Both are dangerous and the latter, if untreated, will cause death. The best preparation is PREVENTION of either occurring in the first place. Remember, its only a hobby and I think it might be a good and responsible idea if the members of the 2nd WVI were at least aware of the basic signs and treatment for the problem.

I don't need to tell you how much we can "bake' when wearing our wool coats in a hot sun.
We can easily drink up our canteen in a short time and always seem to want more water. The greatest urge in the human mind, over all others, is for water when the body is telling us it wants it.
We must know how to manage the heat problem and keep a sharp eye on one another. For the young member, this problem of heat may be no big deal and for the older member this problem of heat is a nuisance and might be treated with denial.
No one is exempt from the problem of heat and it is a concern of any member of our unit. For re-enactors, the greatest problem is that we can get so busy in our hobby we don't recognize a heat problem until it is too late and it has already occurred either to yourself or another member.

Any serious injury or death may wreck our unit and all we've accomplished. Lets take a look at this threat and deal with it.

First, we must remember that most of us are not as physically fit as we might like to think. You should know your physical limits and listen to what your body is saying to you. If you don't, your own stubbornness might damage your body. No Event is worth that. Humid and moist heat will tire us quickly and usually forces us to slow down or quit whatever we're doing.

and push ourselves into a state of emergency. Dry heat exposure can fool us and allow ourselves to go far beyond what our bodies can handle. Collapse after the onset of a heat emergency may cause additional injury such as cuts and bruises from our equipment or even broken bones.

Our internal body temperature normally stays constant through amazing systems within.The body will try to get rid of excess heat through sweating which cools the body through evaporation of the sweat.The dilation of blood vessels causes blood to rise to the skin surface to allow for more discharge of heat also. Above all, the body needs to maintain its regulation of body heat and temperature.

This happens when exercising heavily in an excessively hot environment. The circulatory system starts to fail as blood accumulates at the skin surface The body by now has lost so much water and electrolytes through heavy sweating that hypovolemia occurs (fluid depletion). Remember, cooling occurs through evaporation, our wool coats hamper the evaporation process greatly. No evaporation, no cooling. High humidity further slows evaporation.

A. Cold clammy skin and the face maybe gray.

B. Rapid shallow breathing.

C. Weak pulse.

D. Heavy perspiration.

E. Weakness, dizziness, faintness, nausea, headache.

The rapid breathing may cause hyperventilation that may cause tingling and numbness starting in the feet and hands.

1. Safely move to a cool place.

2. Calm the person, try to get them to slow the breathing down. Don't crowd the person and gawk. It only increases anxiety to someone who is already frightened by what is happening to their body. Don't have 10 people talking at once.

3. Remove as much clothing as possible without causing chilling, especially tight or restrictive clothes.

4. Fan the person.

5. If conscious, administer water (slightly salt water if possible) or Gatorade.

6. Lie the person flat. Safely raise the persons legs or bend the knees.

7. Notify EMS

8. See 3 below. Be prepared for the patient to possibly get worse. However, most should feel better in about 30 minutes.

If untreated, this will cause death. The body has been completely overwhelmed in its ability to rid itself of excess heat. Heat Exhaustion may develop into Heat Stroke. Signs might be:

A. Deep breaths followed by shallow breathing.

B. Rapid, strong pulse that may start to weaken as responsiveness drops.

C. Dry, hot skin, sometimes red in color.

D. Dilated pupils.

E. Loss of consciousness.

F. Convulsions or twitching;

1. Make certain EMS has been notified.

2. The person must be cooled rapidly.

3. Place ice-packs on the wrist, ankles, behind neck,

4 See basic care for Heat Exhaustion.

Since Heat Exhaustion can turn into Heat Stroke, the care may also develop accordingly. If any First Responders, EMT's, Paramedics, or Physicians are present allow them to do their jobs. Until help arrives, the above suggestions might give you some options.

Officers in our unit should keep a sharp eye out and member should monitor each other for problems of heat. Drink lots of water before a drill or engagement, during the activity, and after the activity. If you sense the slightest problem, let someone know! It is a sneaky threat and can take you down before you know it. Avoid waltzing off by yourself and stay in a well ventilated cool area after we're done running around. If you have seen someone stop sweating, or you have, the process has already started! Gatorade is great stuff and C.Sgt. Fuller will have an adequate supply on hand through the Commissary. Also, you'll find ice-packs, gatorade, and salt tablets in the ammo box marked with a thick green stripe which is our first aid box in the commissary area.This article is written in good faith and is solely intended to be a guide. It is not to serve as a statement of the standard of care in every situation.