How to Get Rid of Common Sickness in Camping and Backpacking Trips
Travelers like campers and backpackers are prone to diarrhea caused by contaminated water. According to the latest report released by the World Health Organization, about eighty percent of travel diseases are causes by unsafe water. If you are camping or backpacking, the only way you can avoid s getting sick is to take extra care especially when water is involved.
Backcountry waters are not safe to drink. There are around 90% of water sources in North America that are contaminated with common microbes like giardia and crystosporidia. These microbes cause “Beaver Fever”, a term that pertains to the effects of chronic diarrhea and vomiting. The good news is that these sicknesses can be avoided by treating the water first before drinking. Boiling, bleaching and iodine treatment can kill these microbes. You can also use a reliable water purifier to treat your drinking water.
There are several ways to ensure that your water is safe for drinking and for food preparation. The best way available is to boil your water. This way, most microbes will surely be eliminated. But if you are an ultralight backpacker, this will be a significant consideration as you need to pack boiling equipment. For a lighter load, you can use a reliable water purifier like Katadyn Hiker. Most water purifiers are designed to kill most microbes in backcountry drinking water. Other available options are the use of iodine and bleaching tablets to purify water. These methods however leave a bad taste on water.
Keep yourself fully hydrated by drinking a lot of water. It is recommended that you bring bottled mineral water. You can drink hot coffee and tea including beer and wine as these are safe. For hand washing purposes, it would be better if you carry a bottle of hand sanitizer in cases that water is not available. Treat water first before using it for taking medicines, for bathing, brushing your teeth and food preparation.
Perishable food like meat and chicken are not advisable to be packed especially if you are camping for several days. If you prefer to eat meals with these ingredients, make sure that these foods are consumed immediately to avoid spoilage. Fruits are vegetables are safe to eat at the campsite but make sure to wash them with treated water. It is advisable that you wash them well and pack them in clean sealed containers before the trip. Canned and dried foods are preferred by most campers.
It is vital for campers and backpacker to prioritize safety at all times. In order to avoid getting sick, follow proper sanitation practices. It will be advantageous to bring few pieces of clean towels to dry your hands after washing. Be responsible enough to dispose your waste properly in favor of other campers and the environment.
. DIY Backpacking Ultralight Gravity Fed Water Filter
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A backpack fitted with pocket(s) that are suspended on the wearer"s front side (chest) and loaded in such a way that the load in the front and the load in the back are about equal is called a bodypack. The majority of the load on a bodypack is carried by the hips.
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Check out the Amazon Water Purifier Backpacker products below too.
Simply fill up the pouch of your choice at a lake, stream or river, screw the filter directly onto the pouch and
1) Squeeze the bag and filter water into your water bottle or container of choice.
2) Drink directly from the filter which has a built in push pull cap for on/off functions.
3) Attach the filter onto most threaded water bottles including 2 liter bottles.
Chosen "Best in the bunch by a long shot" in Backpacker magazine's field test for ease - of - use! Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Microfilters. These are the world's best-selling water microfilters. Today, there are more Hikers in use than any other outdoor water system, and that's because they get the job done, a smart investment for convenience and health. The Microfilter meets industry standards for r...
Most people like to draw water from nature when camping or hiking, but even a stream that looks clean may not be. Microorganisms most often come from animal and human waste and are spread by water run-off that ends up in local water sources. Enter the SteriPen Adventurer Opti handheld UV water purifier, the smallest and lightest outdoor SteriPen on the market. The Adventurer Opti is equipped with ...
August 2nd, 2009 | 
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