containers, stow them carefully so that you won’t loseany water. Cover all open containers to slow downevaporation; 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 oldsea ice. Old sea ice is a bluish color, splinters easily, andis nearly free from salt. New ice is milky in color, hard,and salty. You may also obtain freshwater fromicebergs, but use caution. As its underwater portionmelts, an iceberg gets top heavy and can capsize withoutwarning.SURVIVAL STEPSMost of the following survival information appliesto persons in lifeboats, but some of this informationapplies to persons in the water. In trying to survive atsea, you will face thirst, hunger, and exposure whetheryou are in a lifeboat or in the water. You can endurethese conditions, however, if you take the proper steps.ThirstThe one absolutely essential requirement forsurvival is drinking water. Without it, death will mostlikely occur in 8 to 12 days. Normally, you need about 2quarts of water a day; but because of inactivity and lackof food, you can survive on as little as 6 ounces a day in alifeboat.Water is lost from the body by the evaporation ofperspiration and through the digestive process. Someactions you can take to reduce water loss include thefollowing:Keep your clothes wet during the day (weatherpermitting, of course), but dry them beforesundown.Wear the least amount of clothes possible,depending upon your need for protection fromthe elements.If water is scarce, eat sparingly.Never drink seawater or urine. To do so wouldonly aggravate your thirst and increase bodywater loss with a subsequent speedup indehydration.Do not drink your entire daily water ration at onetime. It is better to drink small amounts three orfour times daily.HungerThe food rations supplied with each lifeboat are15-11Student Notes:Figure 15-7.—Igniting the MK 13 distress signal.Figure 15-8.—Dye marker.
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