Originally Posted By: DesertFox
During Coast Guard training in the 80s, we were taught that in a survival at sea situation not to drink for the first 24 hours. The reasoning was that it takes this long for the body to adjust to the deprivation and start conserving water, rather than passing it though. Once in the bladder, I don't think the body will reabsorb, but I'm not a medical expert.

It is also possible (likely?) that that is now old advice.


I have no recall of being taught to not pee in a survival at sea class, and I had a couple. However, I do remember being told not to drink urine (or seawater) because you would become dehydrated more quickly. I was surprised when I saw Bear Grylls peeing into his canteen.

And I also seem to recall that you would reabsorb urine from your bladder. I doubt this would be a big issue for most people in a liferaft or lifeboat, at first. I'd be either too scared to pee or so scared I would be able to stop it.