Las Vegas Weather...

[TheCotMan]

Every year we tend to have the "stay hydrated" thread which discusses weather, and reminds people new to visiting a desert to stay hydrated and keep cool, and don't sleep in a car.

Weather from Weather.com for Las Vegas

Looks like a trend with 85 degrees as a low and highs from 103 to 109 in the days leading up to Defcon and predictions for rain/thunderstorms on the Monday before con. (Obviously, accuracy in predicting the weather 10 days from now is usually pretty low.)

[erehwon]

Re: Las Vegas Weather...

One nugget of knowledge I can part with, its a good idea to buy a hydration backpack like Camelback and get two bladders, one for the daylight, and for carrying water. Another for night and whatever beverage you have in mind. Nothing compares the look you get when you ask the bartender to mix 100ozs of Midori Sours for and pour it here into this bladder...

[sintax_error]

Re: Las Vegas Weather...

Was up in Vegas last weekend, similar forecast, but in reality highs were about 115, lows in the high 90's, thunderstorms were nuts (high winds, huge, albeit short, downpours, etc.) Always, always, always plan for heat greater than predicted in the desert, and always have plenty of water on hand (or an average of $2-$4 spare cash for each bottle). Don't be stupid with alcohol and heat, no one wants to see someone carted off in an ambulance due to heat stroke, or worse.

[P33V3]

Re: Las Vegas Weather...

Just plan on it being ridiculously hot.

[YenTheFirst]

Re: Las Vegas Weather...

Another thing to remember - because of the usually low humidity, and how friggin' hot it is, sweat evaporates really quickly outside. It's often possible to become really hot, and dehydrated, without even realizing it.

[noid]

Re: Las Vegas Weather...

If it rains, stay indoors and off the streets. For those that have never experienced flash flooding, its everything you think it is. When a ton of rain dumps in a short period of time out in the desert, it all rushes to the lowest point. Vegas, is that lowest point. Also, when that water is moving, its really moving. Most flood casualties come from people that thought they could cross a road and realized too late that they couldnt take the current. I do emergency work and live in an area that has to deal with its rivers jumping their banks every year, we see a lot of this. People try to cross something and get swept away. At that point they either drown or collide with something, get knocked unconscious, then drown.

So while the site of a flooding street in Vegas may be photo worthy and unusual, take your pics from somewhere safe and stay out of it till it subsides.

And as everyone else will tell you, stay hydrated. Even in the hotel, that air is dry as a bone. The fact that its cool is somehow almost worse as you aren't thinking of dehydration because you aren't miserably hot. Drink water, drink electrolyte solutions (they have what plants crave), and take it easy on the sauce. My personal rule has always been one pint of water for every pint of beer. Yes, that reduces my stomach capacity for beer, but as any veteran will tell you this isnt a high school kegger where you drink as much as you can as quick as you can..this is a 5 day endurance contest..Every year some poor person (usually young) blows their wad Thursday night and spends the rest of their trip recovering. Don't be that guy (or girl).

[noid]

Re: Las Vegas Weather...

One nugget of knowledge I can part with, its a good idea to buy a hydration backpack like Camelback and get two bladders, one for the daylight, and for carrying water. Another for night and whatever beverage you have in mind. Nothing compares the look you get when you ask the bartender to mix 100ozs of Midori Sours for and pour it here into this bladder...

Dont plan on that second hydration bladder lasting too long. The plastic that makes up the average hydration bladder tends to handle hard liquor and carbonated drinks poorly. As one of my goons told me, they tried this in the Marines and found that after a few hours their started to leak. Then again, knowing the Marines, it was probably entirely filled with Everclear or 151.

[noid]

Re: Las Vegas Weather...

Another thing to remember - because of the usually low humidity, and how friggin' hot it is, sweat evaporates really quickly outside. It's often possible to become really hot, and dehydrated, without even realizing it.

Make use of the buddy system too. Keep an eye on your friends, as the first thing that goes when you start suffering exposure related health problems is your judgment. I can tell you stories..grim, unpleasant stories..of what happens to people who lose their judgment and have no one around to reign them in.

So look out for those around you. Are they flushed? Do they appear pale and 'sick looking'? Are they disoriented/confused? Get them some place cool, get them water*, and keep an eye on them. Worst case, get them medical attention if they lose consciousness or begin vomiting. Also, be ready to eat your own dog food. If your buddy is telling you to sit down and have some water, listen to them, they are probably noticing signs that you might not be picking up on.

Now, I want to make it clear that 99.9% of Defcon attendees come to the event and have no issues. In fact, they usually have the time of their life. I don't want to scare anyone in the slightest, I just want to educate folks a bit so they can be prepared for that 0.1% situation.

*one note..let the person sip the water. Most helpful people want the person to take a bunch of water in as quickly as possible to 'get better', but that can actually make them ill. The goal is consistent water intake over time, no need to make them chug-a-lug

[erehwon]

Re: Las Vegas Weather...

Dont plan on that second hydration bladder lasting too long. The plastic that makes up the average hydration bladder tends to handle hard liquor and carbonated drinks poorly. As one of my goons told me, they tried this in the Marines and found that after a few hours their started to leak. Then again, knowing the Marines, it was probably entirely filled with Everclear or 151.

I'll have to second this, which is why I recommend the second bladder, if it the run of the mill Camelback bladder and you wash it out with water after a night of drinking, it should last the duration of the conference. I have a couple of Source bladders, and they are built like a Merkava tank, but you're paying extra for that bulletproofness.

Still, as noid has pointed out, you're in a desert, (indoors or out) drink lots of water, Gatorade, or even Pedialyte!

[charliex]

Re: Las Vegas Weather...

we had a flash flood today, so it does happen.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: Las Vegas Weather...

we had a flash flood today, so it does happen.

it was funny, right as we were in the cab ride to the Caesar's the driver was like "wtf raindrops" and it started really coming down for a bit. my mind jumpped right away to the "great flood of DEFCON 7" thread.

[not5150]

Re: Las Vegas Weather...

Here's another for common sense, but apparently some people don't get it.

Don't sleep/nap in your fookin car!

I was walking out to grab some of my stuff in the parking lot when I saw someone dozing in the passenger seat of their car (wearing all black too). The windows were rolled down about two inches.

After approximately 10 seconds of banging on the window, the guy woke up. He told me he felt really tired and wanted to rest a bit. /facepalm

Oh this was at around 4 PM and his car was in full sunlight.

[hackajar]

Re: Las Vegas Weather...

And, as mentioned every year, do not try to Over hydrate yourself, it's a big bag of no!

[astcell]

Re: Las Vegas Weather...

One glass of water for every two alcoholic drinks works for me. YMMV.