Lesson 7: DON'T DRINK THE WATER
In this lesson, we'll look at those beautiful rivers and streams: cool, crystal clear water that tastes great but could be hazardous to your health, or even fatal. We'll discuss bacteria that can be present in natural water, and the illnesses those bacteria can cause. We'll also look at illness symptoms, and when to seek medical attention. Finally, we'll look at techniques to make natural water safe to drink, and how to prevent having to drink water "in the wild".
INTRODUCTION TO LESSON 7
Imagine this scene: you’re canoeing down a beautiful river in Colorado. The water is clear and cold, and looks absolutely delicious. You stop your canoe and fill your water bottle with that sparkling water. You drink deeply, savoring the pure taste of that wonderful water. The question is this: what did you just drink? To your taste buds, you just drank the most delicious water you’ve ever tasted. To your digestive tract, you just drank millions of bacteria that, in about 7-10 days, are going to make you best friends with your bathroom. To your naked eye, that water was clean and clear, and looked like it came out of a commercial for bottled water—you know, the ones with the flowing streams that make you think natural water is the safest thing on Earth. But put a minute sample of that same water under a microscope, and you’ll be amazed at all the activity going on in that seemingly clean and clear water.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Identify potential sources of non-potable water.
- Understand common bacteria present in natural water, and the illnesses they can cause.
- Identify signs and symptoms of illness potentially caused by drinking contaminated water, and know when those symptoms normally occur.
- Know what to do if you suspect water-borne illness.
- Understand techniques that can be used to make natural water safe to drink.
- Know how to prevent having to drink natural water.
