Safety Corner: Dehydration: The Sun is Your Enemy
As published in the Herald, April 2003
During the coming summer months heat and sun (as nice as it is) can be a threat. To guard against this, rapid replacement of fluids and electrolytes is critical. Let’s look at some simple prevention factors to reduce the possibility of heat injury this summer. The physicker in charge of an event should be sure the Crowns have set aside a meager budget for a few supplies, such as:
- Small dill pickle spears. Known for their sodium content, they are also a rich source of calcium chloride. (Most green olives will also work)
- Water bottles (2 ltr. soda bottles with surgical tubing through the cap). Keep a bottle or two that can be used to wet down a fighter’s gambeson between rounds of battle.
- Shop towels (soaked in cool water from a cooler). Apply to a fighter’s face, head and back of his neck as soon as he comes off the field. Going from super hot to super cold can cause shock, so be careful of ice water.
- Feed fighters while watering them. Many water fruits (such as grapes or oranges) also have important nutrients.
- Look for shade. Where there is fighting there should be shade to fight in and shade to administer aid in.
- Don’ take “no” for an answer. Every fighter should take water and cold towels and foods on a hot day, or they don’t belong on the field.
In service to all, Lord Jordan of Marlborough, Imperial Physicker of Adria 2003

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