Tag Archives: clean water
A few good water filter options
Whether you are traveling abroad or backpacking in the wilderness drinking good water is a necessity. Bad water can carry parasites and bacteria like giardia, which can cause horrible flu like symptoms that can last several weeks or months. Over the years, new water filtering and cleaning products become available on the market. Although, filtering water is the best way to remove impurities there are also other and sometimes cheaper alternatives.
Water Filter
Filtering water through a carbon or similar filter is the best way to clean water. Numerous water filters have been available for some time but until recently many of them were too large or heavy to carry while traveling or backpacking. They were also slow. There are now many manufactures making fast, small and lightweight water filters.
MSR Hyperflow:
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This filter is relatively inexpensive, fast and works with most wide mouth water bottles. The entire pump assembly is light and a single filter cartridge can clean up to 1000 liters of water. The Hyperflow filter does not come without caveats. It can not be frozen and therefore is not recommended for cold weather adventures.
Authors Notes – I’ve used this filter for 2 years. The Hyperflow is the best pump I’ve used. It’s light, fast, easy to maintain and never clogs. Best of all, it’s easy to use because it doesn’t have complicated instructions or components.
Katadyn Vario:
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The Vario filter combines 3 different filtering technologies into one small, 15oz filter assembly. This filter also works with standard large mouth water bottles. Although, it is larger and heavier than the MSR Hyperflow, the Vario filter can be used in cold weather climates.
Authors Notes – I used this filter on a 3 day backpack trip. Although, we used it to filter water from crystal clear mountain streams the filter clogged numerous times during our trek. The Vario does have an adjustable pre-filter that we could not seem to master which could account for our troubles.
UV Device
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UV light can kill most water borne pathogens and is an effective water treatment method. SteriPEN has a line of products that use ultra-violet light to clean water. To use the device you will need to fill a water container with unclean water and place the UV device into the water. Then, press the UV activating button on the device and wait until the LED on the device appears, indicating you can remove the device from the water.
The SteriPEN is a great way to make water drinkable but it does have drawbacks. First the device doesn’t filter out “floaties”. UV light may not be as affective in unclear water; therefore you need to pre-filter the unclean water before using the SteriPEN.
Authors Notes – I used a SteriPEN Adventurer and pre-filter on a 3 day trek in the Olympic National Park. The SteriPEN performed great on the first 2 days but water seeped into the battery cage of the device and caused a short. I was left with no way to filter water on the last day. I replaced the device with an MSR Hyperflow filter.
Iodine Tincture
This is by far the cheapest and probably the oldest solution in modern history to treat unfiltered water. A small bottle of the liquid can treat about 100 quarts of water and it only costs about $3.00. Simply fill your water bottle up with clear, unfiltered water and add 5-10 drops of iodine. Wait 30 minutes and enjoy your clean water.
There are a few drawbacks to Iodine, though. First, Iodine tastes awful. Some people put vitamin C tablets in their water bottles after treatment to counteract the taste but others may find it too displeasing. The second problem with Iodine Tincture is that it does not completely remove all parasites. Cryptosporidium, a diarrhea causing parasite, is resistant to iodine treatment. Finally, iodine can be poisonous in large doses. It is not recommended for people who have hypersensitivity to iodine, thyroid problems or women who are pregnant.
Authors Notes – I used this treatment method on multiple trips into the backcountry of Canyonlands National Park. While the method is certainly cheap and easy, it doesn’t come without problems. Iodine has a terrible taste and caused yellow spots to appear on my clothing where it seeped through my pours. I would not recommend this method unless no other method was available.
10 ways to prevent and handle medical emergencies abroad.
Planning for an overseas vacation can take a lot of time, energy and money. Getting sick or injured while on vacation can ruin your trip and cost more money. Accidents and illness can happen without warning but with a little planning you can have a safe and healthy vacation. Here are 10 things you can do to ensure your vacation is a success.
- Consult a travel pharmacist: These doctors can help you plan your vacation and give important medical advice. They can educate and advise patients on region or country specific dangers and remedies and they can also provide vaccinations if required.
- Know where you are traveling: Familiarize yourself with the destination you are traveling to. If it is a common destination information should be available online, from a travel agent and/or travel pharmacist. Differences in climate, pollution, and altitude can cause a multitude of problems. Knowing what to expect in advance could be the difference between a good or bad vacation.
- Check medical insurance coverage: Some insurance companies do not offer the same coverage if you need medical care or prescriptions while traveling abroad and overseas medical care can be expensive without insurance. Likewise, Medicare and Medicaid are not accepted outside theUnited States. Check with your insurance company and purchase supplemental insurance as needed.
- Bring Medications: Pack a small bag of commonly used medications and any prescription medications you have. Although, most hotel’s concierge desk will have common medications, you will save yourself the hassle of locating what you need if you already have it packed in your suitcase. It is more important to carry prescriptions while on vacation. Finding pharmacies while abroad can be a hassle, if not difficult.
- Don’t Drink The Water: In some places, water is just plain unsafe to drink but even water in modern industrialized countries can make you sick. The mineral content can make your stomach feel uneasy even though the water is completely safe to drink. Travelers sometimes feel this way for a few days. It is best to drink bottled water while traveling and avoid feeling queasy.
- Pack Comfortable Footwear: This may seem obvious but comfortable footwear while traveling is a must-have. Try to plan ahead and bring shoes for a variety of activities you will be doing while on vacation. While you’re abroad try to wear the shoes you packed and planned for. That means, don’t wear sandals on a hike. If you do get blisters, treat them immediately. Moleskin is great for treating developing blisters.
- Avoid Getting Sun Burnt: Sunburns are bad enough when you get them at home but getting a sunburn while traveling can ruin your vacation. Always use sun block with a minimum of 30 SPF and apply the first coat of sun block at least 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply sun block throughout the day and while you are in the sun.
- Prevent Dehydration: Staying hydrated while abroad is important but it can be difficult especially if tap water is unsafe to drink. Bottled water is best but it is important to remember that you can stay hydrated with fluids other than water. Although, some studies show otherwise, 8oz of non-alcoholic fluid, 8 times per day is a good rule of thumb. More is necessary if you are doing strenuous exercise or activities.
- Don’t Overindulge: Vacation is fun and it can be easy to overindulge in food and alcohol. But overindulging in food can cause stomach and intestinal problems which can put a stop to vacation activities. Alcohol can also be dangerous. Beyond the obvious day-ruining side-affects of a hangover, alcohol can cause dehydration which can further ruin a vacation. It’s okay to have fun and indulge but be safe.
- Know who to contact in an emergency: Most people know what to do if they have an emergency at home but few know what to do while traveling abroad. Language barriers and little knowledge of an area’s medical facilities can further complicate things. If you get sick and need medical assistance your hotel can most likely direct you to the proper medical facility and some may even have a doctor on staff. If you are not near your hotel or they can not be of any assistance you can always call theUS embassy in the country you are visiting. Embassy consular employees are available 24/7 and can assist with any emergencies you may have. Before you leave find out how to contact the US embassy in the countries you are planning to visit and keep this information with your passport and other important information you keep with you at all times.
Getting sick or injured while away from home can quickly ruin a vacation. Take time to prepare and use these simple tips to avoid getting sick or injured while you are on vacation.
Denver, CO