- How much water do agricultural field workers need, and how much do they get?
- What else besides the obligatory provision of water and cups affects actual fluid replacement?
- How are workers and their work affected by fluid loss during the day?
- What can be done to reduce their chances of experiencing harmful dehydration?
Field Trials of an Individual Hydration System
Overview
Two 1999 field trials conducted by researchers from the University
of California at Berkeley began to find out. The studies attempted
to assess effects of an alternative form of water delivery on actual
water intake, comfort and performance. In both studies, we
provided agricultural workers with
CamelBak hydration systems
(CB), and spoke to workers about the dangers of heat stress, how
it develops, and the importance of staying well hydrated.
Results of the studies are encouraging and suggest that workers
are open to innovations that improve their access to water. Preliminary
results also suggest that, at least when combined with education
about heat stress physiology, use of an individual hydration system
can decrease the chance of a worker suffering dehydration, and it
may also help sustain performance capacity throughout the day.