48 lines
2.8 KiB
Plaintext
48 lines
2.8 KiB
Plaintext
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Urine as a Survival resource
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Urine can be very useful in survival situations. Two main uses can be as
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an emergency eyewash and a source of fertilizer for your plants.
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Urine as it comes from the urethra is a sterile, (unless there exists a
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bladder, kidney or urinary tract infection), saline solution of about 6 pH
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(range 4.8-8.5). This makes a perfectly satisfactory eyewash in situations
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where water is unavailable or of questionable quality. Since urine contains
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nutrients that can support the growth of harmful organisms, the eye should be
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rinsed with a boric acid or other eyewash solution as soon as possible.
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Urine output is about 600-1,600 ml./24 hours with around 55-70 gms./24 hrs
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of total solids. Typical electrolytes are (per 24 hours)
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Sodium 130-260 mEq
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Chloride 110-250 mEq
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Potassium 25-100 mEq
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Calcium 100-250 mg.
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Magnesium 15-300 mg.
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Phosphorus,inorganic .9-1.3 Gm.
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Components that contain Nitrogen are (per 24 hours)
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Ammonia 20- 70 mEq
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Creatine 0-100 mg.
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Creatnine .8-1.9 Gm.
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Protein 10-150 mg.
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Urea nitrogen 6 - 17 Gm.
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Uric acid .25-.75 Gm.
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That doesn't sound like much, but take 1 quart of urine and add 3 or 4
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quarts of water and pour that on a lawn, just one application, that hasn't been
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fertilized and you will be amazed. Do not use urine undiluted since the
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heavy dose of nitrogen will "burn" the plants.
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Since urine has so much nitrogen it could be added to a compost pile that
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is long on carbon but short on nitrogen.
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In absolutely desparate conditions urine can used for a beverage if you
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are low on water and in danger of dehydration. This shouldn't be taken to
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extremes, but there are religious sects in India that advocate drinking ones
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own urine once a day for mytiscal reasons and they do not seem to suffer from
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any ill effects. I doubt that you will benefit from the mystical advantages
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claimed for this, but it may keep you alive. Needless to say, you can not rely
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solely on urine for fluids for an extended period of time since urine contains
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waste products. Urine can however be used to prevent dehydration in the same
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manner as seawater or other saline or contaminated waters. You can use the
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undrinkable water to cool your skin thereby reducing water loss from
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perspiration. Where dehydration is emminant, use the salty water to cool your
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skin and clothes. The phrase, "Ration your sweat, not your water.", is the
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idea here. Every cup of water that you can prevent losing is just as good as
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an additional cup of water that you drink as far keeping yourself properly
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hydrated.
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