A few precautions and preparations can insure that you always have a GOOD time at reenactments. The number one safety problem at reenactments is heat stroke . Government records of Civil War deaths count 313 deaths caused by sunstroke. To prevent heat stroke and improve your energy level you need to drink water. Experts recommend eight ounces or half a cup of cold water every 15 minutes, before, during and after exercise.
Cold water is absorbed out of the stomach and into the blood stream faster.
The benefit is that it quickly re-hydrates and cools the body. Have a glass of electrolyte replacement i.e. Gatorade, for every 6-8 glasses of water. You will need to replace the minerals that you lose through sweating. When taken during exercise, fruit juice can slow the absorption of fluid into the blood stream because of its high sugar content. However, its fine after exercising.