Waterbearer

Majer Déva
(Kathy Kondor)
620 Red River Rd., Apt. 301
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 7C8,
(807) 767-7155 ((605) 336-3556)
waterbearer@northshield.org
Took Office: 2006-10-01

Anyone who is willing to help with waterbearing is a member of The Northshield Waterbearer's Guild as far as I'm concerned. It would be good if folk knew the things listed below, but anyone can be a waterbearer if they are willing to carry water jugs to those who are thirsty. There are some warning signs of heat related illness that waterbearers should be aware of, but the one thing about which I am adamant is that NO ONE should feel that they need to jump through hoops before they can help at a water station!!! Even in those circumstances where they want only the most experienced waterbearers on the field, there are plenty of things to do on the sidelines that need no special training. I have already had people say that they weren't sure if they could participate if they weren't on some official list. I would rather the guild dissapear all together if that is going to be the result of its existance! The guild is here to facilitate waterbearing support at events within the Principality and to help educate people about ways to support other activities in this fashion.

Autocrats should still plan these things into their events, using local waterbearers as point persons, rather than assuming that the Official Waterbearers Guild will miraculously appear to save the day. We are a resource facility, not a trade union. I know that there are ranks set up in the guild, but I would like to hold off on that for a while.

Archery, armored combat, dancing, equestrian activities, rapier combat, and just being spectators to these events can be a very thirsty business, especially at summer events, but throughout the year. If these different activities are taking place at different sections of the site, substations at the different venues would be a good idea as well.

On the practical level for those planning water stations for their events, I recommend having both water and gatorade (mixed at about 1/2 strength), oranges (and possibly other fruit) for citric acid and natural sugars, and pickles or banana chips for potassium. Pretzels can also be good for the salt and carbs. A bucket with rags for wiping brows is also a good thing. If a group is unable to supply this entire list, start at the beginning and work your way through in order - I have listed them in decreasi ng order of importance.

Some other tips for successful water-bearing:

• Use gallon jugs to carry the water and gatorade. If the jug has held anything but bottled water, wash the jug thoroughly, sterilize it with a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water, and rinse thoroughly with clean water before using. Sterilize and save the caps also!
• When buying tubing for use as straws, be sure to use at tubing that is at leat 3/8" in diameter. Anything smaller than that limit the flow of water too much and should't be used.
• Cut the tubing straws to be 1.5 - 2 times the height of the jugs you are using. This will allow plenty of tubing for the straw to reach both the bottom of the jug and to reach through the grill of the fighters helmets for them to drink. (Helms are only a problem with armored combat, but that length of straw is convenient for any of the activities listed above).
• Thread the tubing through the handle of the jug. This will keep tubing in place so that it won't flop around and will always be pointing toward the person recieving the water.
• Tubing should be sterilized in the same manner describe for jugs. This is especially important on multi day events. Sterilize all of your equipment at the beginning of each day.
• Buy large canisters of gatorade powder and premeasure the powder into inexpensive zip lock sandwich bags. One corner of the bag can then be used like a funnel pour the powder into the jugs. This saves LOTS of mess - especially on damp or windy days. Then you can just fill the jug with water, cap the jug, and shake thoroughly before inserting the straw. You will also find that the gatorade mixes more easily if you fill the jug about 1/4 full with water, then add gatorade powder, then shake a bit, the n fill the jug until full, and then shake more. This avoids the clumping that often occurs at the bottom of the jug.
• Buy a variety of flavors of gatorade, they will thank you for the choice of flavors.
• Cut the oranges in wedges, 6-8 to an orange depending on the size of the orange. Buy your oranges in the 10 - 15 pound mesh bags and keep the bags for use in keeping the area clean. Either give each waterbearer carrying oranges a mesh bag to collect the rinds and/or leave a bag for rinds at the waterbearing station where the oranges are being served on a table.
• Keep the oranges and pickles cool if possible.
• Change the water in the rag bucket as frequently as possible. It will be ***really*** icky by the end of a long day.
• Remember that hydration is *your* friend as well as the friend of those participating in the other activities. All waterbearers should remember to drink and replenish their own resources as well as helping others to do so!
• Have sunscreen at the water station for any who have forgotten some for themselves.
• If you can, have one or two waterbottles of the 20oz, sports-cap variety for the use of any that might feel that they are sick. That way they won't spread their germs directly through the water supply! (Maybe if we provide them for a while, folk will start to think about such things and remember to bring their own. Some actually do already.)