In addition, if a police officer has an underlying medical condition, this can cause dehydration or increased heat production. The decreased dissipation of heat can interfere with normal thermoregulatory mechanisms and make an officer more susceptible to heat illness while on duty.
Chronic medical conditions can also contribute to dehydration. These include diabetes mellitus, eating disorders, alcoholism, and illicit drug use. In fact, alcoholism and illicit drug use are among the 10 major risk factors for heat illness in the general population.
Obesity, a major health problem among the general population and for some police officers, places an individual at risk for heat illness. This is because of increased energy required to move extra mass, increased thermal insulation, and altered distribution of heat-activated sweat glands.
The color of urine has been suggested as a way to gauge and monitor hydration status. This method is based on a color-coding scheme in which individuals pay close attention to the color of their urine. Darker urine indicates a higher level of dehydration. If the urine is strongly yellow in color, the person is becoming dehydrated and needs more aggressive hydration.
Hydration is critical for officers working in heavy gear. That’s why Med-Eng created the BaquaPak for its V-Top personal protection suit.
In sports medicine circles, a hotly debated topic is what is the most appropriate fluid replacement. Confusion has arisen over a need for replacing electrolyte losses as well as the advantages of carbohydrate supplementation. Early medical investigators promoted sodium-containing fluids to prevent the development of hyponatremia (low blood sodium).
A study was conducted to look at the effectiveness of three commercial sports drinks, which were compared during 4 hours of physical activity. The beverages consisted of prepared solutions containing component individual minerals and glucose. All of the beverages proved equally effective in maintaining water and electrolyte balance during moderate physical performance. The benefit of consuming commercial sports drinks appears to be the enhanced good taste that then increases the voluntary beverage consumption, thereby reducing dehydration and preserving muscle function.
Cold replacement beverages increase the motility of the smooth muscles in the stomach, thereby speeding gastric emptying more rapidly than warm drinks. The commonly held belief that consumption of cold drinks causes stomach cramps has not been medically proven. Such a phenomenon is most likely related to the volume of the beverage consumed and not the temperature of the beverage. Drinking smaller volumes-for example, 150 to 250 ml every 15 to 20 minutes-will minimize bloating and maintain adequate hydration.
But if you're allergic to stinging insects, keep in mind that drinking sports drinks while on duty may attract bees and yellow jackets, which could put an officer at risk for sting-induced allergic reactions.
To prevent dehydration and heat illness while on duty, be aware of risk factors, alter behavior and physical activity to compensate for these risk factors, and most important, drink plenty of fluids.
BlackHawk's new line of hydration gear includes the STRIKE Gen-4 Molle System Hydration System Carrier. It is large enough to carry a day's worth of water for those shifts when you can't easily refill your water supply.
The BlackHawk Hydrastorm Vector carries 100 ounces in its reservoir. The system features an Intercooler Venting System (IVS), four zippered pockets for carrying essential gear, and is backed by a lifetime guarantee. The Vector is also available in a 72-ounce version.
BlackHawk also offers a gas mask adaptor kit (GMAK) so you can have water where you need it even in an emergency. The complete tube kit is ready to go right out of the box. It easily screws on and off any HydraStorm reservoir and has a universal adaptor compatible with all NATO standard gas masks.
The CamelBak PakTeen is a conveniently small canteen that holds 50 ounces of water. It can be used by itself or added to other hydration systems for added capacity.
For those times when you want a lot of water at the ready, the CamelBak Viper has a 102-ounce ergonomic hydration pack but a low profile. Its large access port provides for easy filling and its ventilated back panel keeps you cooler on the job.
The CamelBak TransFormer starts off with a sleek base system that can hold more water and gear when you add either its small packet or full-length compartment-or add both for extra capacity. The system holds 102 ounces in all.
The BaquaPak from Med-Eng Systems is a hands-free hydration system that allows users to bite down on a mouthpiece and drink from a two-liter water reservoir, even while in riot gear.
The BaquaPak was designed to integrate with the company's V-Top five-piece, blunt impact, personal protection ensemble, engineered for crowd management and prison cell extraction operations.
The BaquaPak's water reservoir is contained in a lightweight, insulated pack that attaches easily to the back of the V-Top Torso. By attaching an adaptor, the BaquaPak can also be used in conjunction with a gas mask.
Lawrence Heiskell, M.D., FACEP, FAAFP, is a reserve police officer with the Palm Springs (Calif.) Police Department and the SWAT team physician for that agency.