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MAN OVERBOARD - 14325_436

Basic Military Requirements (BMR) Revised Edition
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containers, stow them carefully so that you won’t lose any water. Cover all open containers to slow down evaporation; use those you don’t have covers for first. During the rain, drink all you can hold. In polar areas, you can obtain freshwater from old sea ice. Old sea ice is a bluish color, splinters easily, and is nearly free from salt. New ice is milky in color, hard, and  salty.  You  may  also  obtain  freshwater  from icebergs,  but  use  caution.  As  its  underwater  portion melts, an iceberg gets top heavy and can capsize without warning. SURVIVAL STEPS Most of the following survival information applies to  persons  in  lifeboats,  but  some  of  this  information applies to persons in the water. In trying to survive at sea, you will face thirst, hunger, and exposure whether you  are  in  a  lifeboat  or  in  the  water.  You  can  endure these conditions, however, if you take the proper steps. Thirst The  one  absolutely  essential  requirement  for survival is drinking water. Without it, death will most likely occur in 8 to 12 days. Normally, you need about 2 quarts of water a day; but because of inactivity and lack of food, you can survive on as little as 6 ounces a day in a lifeboat. Water is lost from the body by the evaporation of perspiration  and  through  the  digestive  process.  Some actions  you  can  take  to  reduce  water  loss  include  the following: Keep your clothes wet during the day (weather permitting,  of  course),  but  dry  them  before sundown. Wear  the  least  amount  of  clothes  possible, depending upon your need for protection from the elements. If water is scarce, eat sparingly. Never drink seawater or urine. To do so would only  aggravate  your  thirst  and  increase  body water  loss  with  a  subsequent  speedup  in dehydration. Do not drink your entire daily water ration at one time. It is better to drink small amounts three or four times daily. Hunger The  food  rations  supplied  with  each  lifeboat  are 15-11 Student Notes: Figure 15-7.—Igniting the MK 13 distress signal. Figure 15-8.—Dye marker.







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