How long you can last without water.

Without water you will last about 2 1/2 days at 48°C (120°F) if you spend the whole time resting in the shade, though you could last as long as 12 days if the temperature stays below 21°C (70°F).

There has been reported instances of people dying in a day here in Arizona. In the open with no shade the temperature can easily reach 130 in the lower desert. Combine that with the ground temperature that can easily reach 180 or higher that makes for one uncomfortable experience especially if a person gets lost and panics to find there way back. Some are lucky and get rescued before anything dire happens to them. I think this summer I am going to find out just how hot the ground gets down there, I have had people tell me they saw it reach 260 in the open sun, But we will see. Good survival experiment anyway.

You can last a long time without water if you sit on your butt. You will be inefficient and worthless in less than a day without water. There is a difference between living and surviving. You need water. There is no living without.

Yup.

I think I posted that somewhere else, too, but it's worth mentioning. The old adage says "You can go three weeks without food, but only three days without water." I say "Try going 3 days, or even two days, with no water and then tell me if you feel like running from zombies."

rationing water below the minimum need will result in the same thing also, lethargy, loss of strength and eventual dehydration. while a man in an ideal situation (cool location and not moving around) may be able to go quite a while on one quart of water a day, the average situation requires half a gallon per day...minimum. going below that will kill you eventually.

that minimum is still for an inactive person. in hot humid conditions, when work is necessary, 1-3 gallons per person, per day will be needed. the best plan is to keep 1 gallon per person, per day, for several weeks at least, on hand for emergencies. remember, don't believe the crap you see in the movies and try to ration water below the minimum requirements...you'll still end up dead if you do.

Being dehydrated sucks, it's more than being thirsty,managed to get dehydrated on the boat a few times and it sucks. You slow down,tighten up, your thought process gets all screwed up among other things. I found that you just don't get better by just drinking water, it took some time for things to start working right again after rehydrating and waiting for this to happen while busting your butt is aggravating,dangerous too. Just an observation.
Lost

260 in the open sun,

I'd be interested to know how people were able to witness something like that as water boils at 212F and the human body is like 70+% H2O.

I lived in 29 Palms for a few years. I didn't normally monitor the temperature, but it got pretty freaking hot at times. There is something to be said for a dry heat, though: it is more comfortable, but it will kill you quick. You dehydrate so fast, and your perspiration evaporates so fast, you don't even know it until you're kissing the pavement. I have watched my boot polish melt in formation more than once. However, I endured Thailand and the tropical heat...I prefer the desert. Humidity makes me bug-eyed. It's all about preparation (huh, who'da thunk it?) Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. 2-3 gallons of water a day were not uncommon at all. I'd have drank more except I was too busy peeing. Eat a balanced diet (you need to keep your energy levels, minerals and electrolytes balanced...all the water you drink will wipe your system out. Avoid salt tablets unless prescribed by a physician!) Stay in shape. Wear long sleeves, hat and trousers (unbloused.)

Rule of threes

3 minutes without oxygen
3 hours without shelter
3 days without water
3 weeks without food

CalicoJack wrote:Rule of threes

3 minutes without oxygen
3 hours without shelter
3 days without water
3 weeks without food

hah, 3 minutes without air. I smoke. Make that 30 sedconds.