The thing I greatly feared while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps was succumbing to heat casualty. As part of their range safety brief, U.S. Navy Corpsmen described having to use a “silver bullet” to measure a victim’s core temperature. The term is a metaphor for the thermometer inserted through the rectum. Unfortunately, I witnessed corpsmen treat a Marine with one during a Combined Arms Exercise (CAX) in 120-degree heat in 29 Palms, California. Afterwards, he was submerged in a stainless bath of ice water until his internal temperature was stabilized. The threat of being violated was effective and encouraged Marines to hydrate.
In the “head” — the term Marines use to describe the bathroom — it wasn’t uncommon to see a Hydration Analysis Chart at face level over a urinal. It offered a gradation of clear to dark yellow or orange color that you would compare your urine against to judge your hydration level. The chart also indicated how much water you needed to consume in a certain amount of time to correct the color; “Drink 1 canteen over 1 hour,” for example. Even after I left the Marine Corps, this chart followed me through my career. Readers of Guns & Ammo who have trained at Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona, would recognize it. The challenge is forcing yourself to swallow a lot of water. Flavoring helped, and it was common for Marines to mix orange- or lime-flavor powder that added some electrolytes and nutrients.
As a civilian, hydration remains a part of my range bag and safety brief. We’ve come a long way with sport drinks, including powder mix and liquid pouches. I was introduced to HOIST, a brand of sport drink that supports outdoorsmen by a friend. HOIST advertises IV-Level Hydration, as in “Intravenous Fluid-Level.” When I was served in Iraq, a corporal went down to dehydration from the heat. The quickest way to rehydrate him was to stab his arm with a needle and introduce formulated fluids through an IV. Drinking a bottle of HOIST is akin to that level of preventative therapy. You don’t want to succumb to dehydration.
For shooters headed west to a long-range precision rifle match, many of those ranges are located at higher altitudes. If you live closer to sea level and haven’t acclimated, it’s easier to fall victim to dehydration and become a casualty. Drink water when you wake up and throughout the day. Then augment your fluid intake with IV-Level hydration.
Unlike a lot of brands owned by companies that donate profits to ideologies, HOIST is different. In fact, the brand specifically develops its formulas for the military and supports causes such as Folds of Honor. Its newest drink is Five Star Punch, a nod to the highest rank a soldier or sailor can attain during wartime. A portion of the proceeds are given to Folds of Honor, which honors the sacrifices of veterans by providing scholarships to spouses and children of fallen and disabled service members. However, one flavor of drink can lead to boredom and cause you to neglect your hydration level. At the 2024 Outdoor Sportsman Group (OSG) Roundtable, the favorites included Strawberry Lemonade, Peach Mango, Blue Raspberry, Watermelon, Black Cherry, Dragon Fruit and Blaze Orange, which also happens to be a bottle wearing camouflage.
For those who have access to a source of water in the field or at the range, HOIST also offers powder mix packs in Fruit Punch, Grape, and Peach Mango. One pack of powder mix goes a long way and doesn’t take up as much space or is as heavy as a package of bottles. Another lightweight alternative for the field is the liquid pouches in Grape, Fruit Punch and Tropical Orange. These are drink packets that are easy to carry in a pocket, premixed, and can be squeezed with one hand when you’re on the move and can’t stop.
Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. Always keep the gun unloaded until you’re ready to use it. Know your target and what is beyond. Observe the range’s rules and regulations, and wear eye and ear protection as appropriate. Always stay hydrated. That concludes my range safety brief.