08-03-2008, 10:14 PM
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#1 (permalink) |
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Gourd Dancing in the Heat...
I have Gourd Danced all over Oklahoma and other places pretty much year round for a long time. During the months of July and August here in Oklahoma it can be fairly hot to put it mildly.
Well this weekend in Bell Oklahoma I experienced something that I had not since I was in High School and doing 2 a days in football camp in Tahlequah in August. The afternoon session went well, temps were in the 100's and high humidity was in the area. They had us in the trees and plenty of water was passed around all afternoon. Hot but bearable. After supper break we switched to the main arena which is not shaded. The late afternoon sun was slowly setting but the arena was mostly in the sunlight. I had been drinking water off and on all afternoon just keeping my lips wet and not guzzling it. We began the last session to close out the Gourd Dance, I stood up and walked out into the arena and felt dizzy that began to get worse much worse. Funny thing is I kept thinking I have been in heat before many time all this summer. So i kept going when I realized if I did not sit down I would lose my balance and I refuse to do that in front of everybody (still not realizing).... I sat down on the bench and could not cool off, my head was dizzy, stomach was queasy and there was a buzzing in my ears. My companion was right there and knew something was really wrong because she had never seen me sit down during the Gourd Dance. The rest of the story was told me after I came to my senses and was coherent They got me cooled down EMT's checked me out to make sure that my vitals were normal I scared the crap out of my family and friends all around the arena The spectators got a nice show They asked me if I needed to go to the hospital and I said no. I just needed to cool down and get some water in me Well about 20 mins later I was back to my normal self again and embarrassed as hell LOL As I reflect on what occurred yesterday I realize I am a lucky man to have that many people genuinely concerned for my health. The EMT's, security folks and all the responders were right there to make sure I was not injured further The Arena Director Don Stroud was on the ball with gallons of water directed my way to bring my temp down... LOL My companion Valarie was like a traffic cop directing the action, I imagine that it looked far worse that it turned out to be. Thanks to all the folks that came over afterwards to make sure I was ok and feeling better... Looking back on what happened yesterday, I felt I had been doing all the right things in weather that is as hot as it was. But I know that I under estimated the humidity that zaps you of the ability to cool off I was really shocked how fast the heat got to me Although I had been drinking plenty of water I had stopped sweating and that caused my temp to shoot up The classic symptoms of Heat exhaustion is queasy stomach and dizziness And if they dont get you cooled off quickly, Heat Stroke can come next and that becomes very very serious!!! One of the things that had been handed me during my episode was a bottle of Gatorade! That replenished the stuff that I had sweated out and I began to sweat again and thus cool off. I now will always bring several bottles of the stuff in my little cooler and hopefully avoid an experience like that again We all love attention But not surrounded by EMT's and a crowd of people with worried looks on there face...
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Last edited by Josiah; 08-03-2008 at 10:22 PM. |
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08-03-2008, 10:25 PM
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#2 (permalink) |
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Indian Summer never ends
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Wow! Sorry to hear about your experience this weekend, but glad to know that you are okay.
Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are nothing to play with. I never had it happen while dancing, but did while mountain biking in Phoenix a few years ago. It was scary. I got really hot, then stopped sweating (ran out of water  ) and then starting getting goosebumps and shivering like I was cold. As in your case, though I had folks looking out for me and we averted anything more medically serious. I found out through this experience that pre-hydrating, getting plenty of fluids and electrolytes, before exertion can be a really big help. I used to drink a full Gatorade before riding in the heat, and that helped a lot. For me, cramps in the legs were my first sign that I was getting dehydrated and out of balance in my electrolytes It sounds like everybody did the right thing, though, and helped you through it with no bad repercussions. Getting rehydrated, out of the heat and cooled off right away are crucial. Even if you're used to the heat, it can get the best of you under the right circumstances.  to everybody who kept you safe!
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 "Unconquered, unconquerable!"
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08-03-2008, 11:31 PM
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#3 (permalink) |
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Halito!
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 591
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I am so glad that you are OK! Thanks for the heat safety reminder. We have been under an advisory here all week, and now I remember why I need to take that so seriously! Kudos to the folks there being on the ball and taking good care of you. I would sure hate to have anything more serious happen to you as you bring so much happiness and knowledge to us all! Take care!
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Sleep?!? I don't need no stinkin' sleep! |
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I didn't do it... whatever it was
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08-04-2008, 09:36 AM
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#6 (permalink) |
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Cloth Dancer
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Texas
Posts: 359
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Wow, Josiah!! Take care of yourself!
I had the same thing happen just a month ago while painting my in-laws garage. I was drinking water, but just didn't feel like I was getting any cooler. My sister in law offered me a gatorade, and I started to turn it down because I worried about the sugar and salt content of it (borderline diabetic), but went ahead and drank the bottle of it. In a few minutes I started feeling a lot better. So water is the best....but once you've gotten past "too hot" sometimes you need something more. Make sure you have plenty of water............and take a bottle or two of gatorade with you. Take care!! |
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08-04-2008, 01:07 PM
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#8 (permalink) |
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fish soothsayer
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: AR
Posts: 1,268
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Josiah, good to see you back in action. I usually start out with at least a quart of water in the afternoon, I had that completely gone before the afternoon session was over, plus a bottle of gatorade, and a bottle of vitaminwater, not even sure that was enough. I always go to gatorade after a good fill of water, it's in the electrolytes ya know. It's one of the reasons I danced without my blanket in the afternoon, I could tell I was close to being too hot. NorthofAda has it right, getting plenty of fluid even starting the day before is a good idea, definitely the morning of. Again, glad you're ok. The main man at Bell had heatstroke just the week before, not a good thing, it's dangerous out there this time of year. Oh, and although I understand your feeling, I'd be much the same with the fuss, but NOTHING to be embarassed about brother, everyone was glad you were alright, that's the bottom line.
Bill |
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good
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08-04-2008, 08:30 PM
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#12 (permalink) | |
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Quote:
LOL Gatoraide is my standard drink of choice from now on when I Gourd Dance in the Heat!
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08-04-2008, 08:46 PM
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#13 (permalink) |
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: By a mountain on the Rez
Posts: 2,551
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Glad to hear that you're fine Josiah. I know we all hate to admit that we're getting older and not as strong as we used to be. Take care of yourself and I hope the rest of the Summer goes smooth for you.
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08-05-2008, 05:38 AM
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#14 (permalink) |
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Insert Image Here
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Norman, OK
Posts: 597
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Man, I keep my IV stuff in the trunk of my car... I missed out on a golden oppourtunity too, lol. Glad you were all right. Preventing such things, are a lot better than treating it.
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***Edited for explicit content*** |
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