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| 1 - http://vegasmike.deviantart.com/ |
When you’re out trudging the
boonies day-in and day-out it can really catch up with you. You can feel like
an animal! You may not think that its anything to be concerned about, after
all, you are living in the wild, aren't you? Well believe it or not,
cleanliness is an important issue to keep in mind when in the wild, especially
for an extended period of time. I'm not saying that “cleanliness is next to
god-liness”, far from it, I'm talking about what staying clean in the field can
do for you, and what to avoid.
Okay; so you can’t exactly soak
in a hot bath filled with essentials oils at the end of a day’s hunting and
gathering, but there are things you can do. But first let me explain why you
need to clean up your act. Medically, you'll be taking preventative measures
that you may normally not even consider. If you forget to brush your teeth for
a week your partner or work colleagues may start to complain about your bad
breath. Don’t brush your hair for a week and your boss might ask you to do something about
your scruffiness. Don’t bathe for a week and you'll probably be asked to take a
leave of absence and to sleep outside with the dog!
However if you’re roughing for an
extended period of time then not cleaning yourself can lead to some pretty
nasty bugs catching a free ride, and sometimes a free meal…you!
Teeth
Try to brush your teeth once a
day, preferably at night before you bunk down. Brush them in the morning and
your body has three meals and a few snacks to compete with during the day, by
brushing before you retire you'll allow the body to heal any potential gum
diseases such as gingivitis while you sleep. Take a trip to the airport one day
and visit either the gift shop or the bathroom, I bought the travel toothbrush
kit from a vending machine for $3.00. It’s small, compact and weighs less than
25 grams!
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| 2 - Travel toothbrush kit |
Hair
You may not be able to shampoo
and condition your hair on a regular basis, (or if you’re bald like me you can
NEVER do that!) but you can at least comb your hair daily. Whether you buy a speciality kit or just a pack of combs, combing your hair has a number of
benefits:
- It cleans and massages your scalp
- It separates your hair, allowing air and sunlight onto your scalp
- It helps to remove some ticks and lice
- It prevents your head becoming a suitable area for ticks and lice to procreate
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| 3 - Comb and Mirror |
Bathing
Fungal infections in the bush can be dangerous and can
become septic, especially from the smallest skin lesion. Whilst you may not be
able to take a shower there are still areas of the body you should keep clean
and dry. Even if you’re rationing your water supply you can use baby wipes to
keep yourself clean.
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| 4 - Baby Wipes |
Areas you need to concentrate are:
- Your ears (behind and the outer canal, not the inner canal!)
- Your face and neck
- Your armpits and groin (it is VERY important that these areas are clean and dry!)
- Behind your knees
- And in-between and underneath your feet
Moist areas of the body attract all sorts of fungal
infections that you do not want to allow to get out of control, especially your
feet which are your main mode of transportation. After cleaning them make sure
they are thoroughly dried, let your feet air for as long as possible before
placing clean, dry socks on them. Microfiber towels are great as they roll up and
pack nice and small, are lightweight, and dry in no time at all.
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| 5 - Microfiber Towel |
There is one final benefit to keeping yourself clean whilst
in the bush; you'll feel a little bit more human every night. Not only will
this feeling aide in a good night’s sleep but the simple act of having a
routine to follow reinforces in your minds that you have not been beaten, no
matter of the day’s failures or successes, and that you have the power to get
up tomorrow and do it all again.
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