EDITOR'S NOTE: The following first appeared in our companion service, The Tactical Wire (www.thetacticalwire.com). With competition season in full swing, hydration isn't just a topic of concern for "operators"- the rest of us need to remember how important hydration is to our overall performance. I stepped out the door this morning and the heat hit me like a hot, wet wall. It's summer in Dixie. The temps are in the mid nineties – or higher - and the humidity is often eighty percent or more. On the range, which is dug into the side of a hill, it's normally ten to fifteen degrees hotter. The ground and walls are chert, which is light colored. Sunlight and heat bounce off it with a vengeance. Under these conditions staying hydrated is mandatory. Hydration is important in every day life as well, and something you need to pay more attention to than you probably do. When you wake up your body is ten percent dehydrated. A three percent decrease starts to mentally affect you. So first thing in the morning you need to down some water, before you hit the coffee or soft drinks. You need to be drinking water all day long, no matter where you are or what you're doing. What are the effects of dehydration? First, you start to get stupid. Without fluids "your brain starts working not too good." As the fluid in the body decreases blood flow decreases, causing the heart to work harder to keep up the volume and pressure. Hydration keeps the body's joints lubricated and functioning smoothly. Staying hydrated is essential to regulating body temp. Without enough fluid the body can't sweat, which is how it cools itself, and the core temperature rises. This leads to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. There are tips to staying hydrated. When you know the next day is going to be a hot one start hydrating the night before. During physical exertion you need to put in at least eight or ten ounces of water every fifteen to twenty minutes. Taking in smaller amounts of water more often is better than waiting and trying to put in large amounts of fluid. Once the day is over continue to hydrate, replacing fluids that you've lost during the day. During physical activity you're also losing chemicals like sodium, potassium and chloride. Fluids with carbohydrates and electrolytes help replace these chemicals and allow the body to absorb them. How do you know you're taking in enough fluids? Your urine should be light yellow or, even better, clear. Until you get these results you need to keep hydrating. By the way, if you're not having to make a head call on a regular basis you're not taking in enough fluids. You can also over hydrate. Too much water in the body dilutes the sodium level. This can lead to behavioral changes, brain damage, seizures, and comas. I've seen it happen, and trust me it's not a good thing. Drinking makes you smarter. This allows you to solve problems more efficiently, which is a major component to fighting. Hydrating keeps you physically fit, another important factor when dealing with danger. Remember, if you wait until you're thirsty to drink that means you're already behind. Being behind is a bad place to be, both in every day and fighting. It's going to be a hot summer out there, in more ways than one. Stay safe. Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama. He is the author of "The Book of Two Guns" - http://shootrite.org/book/book.html writes for several firearms/tactical publications, and is featured on GunTalk's DVD, "Fighting With The 1911 - http://shootrite.org/dvd/dvd.html Website: www.shootrite.org http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shootrite-Firearms-Academy/156608611038230?ref=ts