7
Aug

Wildland Firefighter Gear: Electrolyte Replacements

The arduous work of a wildland firefighter results in a lot of salty sweat.

But during this arduous activity you not only lose water. You also lose electrolytes. Electrolytes are salts — more specifically, positively and negatively charged ions — present in the body. These ions help maintain fluid balance in the body, muscle contraction and neural activity. Water follows the movement of electrolytes, so they play a critical role in maintaining equilibrium of water throughout the body.

There are many different electrolytes, and the types include sodium, chloride, magnesium, potassium and calcium. Each type of electrolyte is key to keeping your body running well, and they have  to be in a very specific balance. The chart below tells you the symptoms of specific electrolyte deficiencies.

Electrolytes

We recognize that when you’re out on the fireline, replacing lost magnesium with a nice filet of halibut is not exactly realistic. However, there are many electrolyte replacements on the market that you can drink or eat to keep your body running at its optimal condition. Check out some these on-the-go options that you can easily carry with your wildland firefighter gear:

  • Clif Shot Bloks — These little energy chews contain only 33 calories and pack an electrolyte punch. The chocolate cherry is super tasty (as far as energy chews go) and you can consume this without having to dirty a “sports drink” water bottle.
  • PowerGel — Of the top brands, this is the only gel that contains sodium, potassium and chloride. It comes 10 flavors and is an easy way to reenergize on the go.
  • Nuun Tabs — Add these tablets to water for a subtle flavor ranging from lemon-lime to cola. The nuun tabs have 360mg of sodium apiece as well as three other electrolytes, potassium, magnesium and calcium. There is no sugar, no caffeine, and little else in Nuun. Perfect for the minimalists!
  • Gatorade G2 Powder Packets — Easy to carry with you on the line. Tried and true flavors that you know and love. Simply add to a water bottle and drink.

What are your favorite electrolyte replacements? Tell us in the comments.