Effects of an electrolyte additive on hydration and drinking behavior during wildfire suppression.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a water + electrolyte solution versus plain water on changes in drinking behaviors, hydration status, and body temperatures during wildfire suppression.

Methods: Eight participants consumed plain water, and eight participants consumed water plus an electrolyte additive during 15 hours of wildfire suppression. Participants wore a specially outfitted backpack hydration system equipped with a digital flow meter system affixed inline to measure drinking characteristics (drinking frequency and volume).

Supplemental feedings increase self-selected work output during wildfire suppression.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of supplemental feeding strategies on self-selected activity during wildland fire suppression.

Methods: Seventy-six wildland firefighters were studied in three experiments for three fire seasons. During the first two seasons, subjects consumed, in addition to their sack lunch, 1) liquid carbohydrate (CHO) (200 mL.