When the outside temperature gauge on my vehicle registers 108 degrees as it did here recently, I pay attention.
We Americans are going through a nasty heat wave all over the country. I’ve always preferred outdoor ranges to indoor, but this summer I’m limiting my “gun in the sun” time as best I can. I’ve been a firearms instructor for a long time, and as much as we focus on gun safety, the one thing that has most often caused us to summon an ambulance to the range is heat prostration.
Take advantage of shade and protective garments. Remember electrolytes. Stay hydrated! I urge my students to keep a water bottle or some Gatorade right with their ammo supply, and when they refill their magazines to refill their internal water tank.
Be careful out there…
Sound advice Mas.
Great suggestions Mas. Staying ahead on hydration is key. I start serious fluid intake the day before outdoor matches or shooting, as well as throughout the day. I had success with a light weight long sleeve Wind Rider fishing shirt last Saturday. It actually felt cool as sweat evaporated. Having a portable fan helped as well. I made lots of new friends with the fan.
Great advice, I spent a couple of days planting fence posts. Not a dry spot on my body-even at one post/day.
FWIW, a doctor suggested that if you’re not dealing with heavy exertion, dilute the Gatorade so it’s a 50/50 water mix.
yep, i remember attending the MAG 80 course in harrisburg, PA and you had a REQUIRED hydration every ten minutes or so. THAT was a very hot summer too…
My old Army canteen, bought as used surplus circa 1970 and used continuously since, finally sprang a leak last year and I replaced it with a new identical one. That’s all that was ever needed for the last 55 years.
Two things I always keep in my Go-Everywhere Bag: A bottle of water or two for just this reason, and either a thermos of coffee or a bottle of caffeinated Vitaminwater or similar. (Trust me, you DO NOT want to see me uncaffeinated, and that’s even without factoring in the withdrawal headaches… Rule 23 is very much a thing.)
Rule 23 from NCIS ‘never mess with a marines coffee if you want to live.
Here in the UK the military has it’s priorities right. Every armoured vehicle has a kettle to make tea.
Heard americans with the brewing role in an office switch the staffs coffee between decaff and espresso weekly, if the site cheeses them :-).
Remember that scene in Star Wars where Darth Vader’s choking that smug bag of crap out in the Death Star conference room?
My ex kept a still of that hanging over the office coffeemaker. Above Vader she had a label, “Me or [DB] without our coffee.” Above the other guy, “YOU without our coffee.” Across the bottom, “ANY QUESTIONS?”
Mas,
Good advice as always. We frequently have range temps of 100 plus, sometimes 110 and above. We use cooling vests to help. Buy two sets of the cooling packs, recommend the heavy duty packs. While wearing one set of the cooling packs, have the other in an ice chest with ice and some water inside. It takes 20 minutes to recharge the packs. That way you have continuous cooling throughout the day. We got these when my wife was having to wear isolation garments for her hospital shifts during COVID. They helped her to stay cool. We use them on the range and when doing hot activities.
This is the brand that we have bought from and had very good experience with:
https://texascoolvest.com/cool-vest-kits/starter-kits/the-expandable-cool-vest/
Best,
Steve and April