Participate!
Wanted: Aquarian Gods & Goddesses to bring life-giving water to our fighting heroes on the field. Heroes will shower you with adulation and gratitude, and the Populace will speak name-fame and gratitude for your godlike ability to appear on the field, hydrating and protecting our great heroes from serious heat related illness.
CAN I BE A WATERBEARER?
YES! You can be a waterbearer.
Adults and taller people can give water to fighters without worrying about being run over.
People less than 12 years old or shorter than 4 feet tall run the risk of being run over by fighters who can't see them. But they can serve as runners and are encouraged to help keep the General Populace hydrated, too.
People with mobility issues may find the terrain challenging to negotiate. However, those that cannot enter the field are sorely needed to make sure there is an adequate supply of water and goods ready, as well as to direct efficient distribution of field waterbearers.
To volunteer to be a waterbearer, contact the Event Steward for Grand Thing and/or for Game of Thrones/Stormgods, or just contact Helvi. About 20 persons are needed to volunteer.
Waterbearers work in shifts, so it isn't be terribly time consuming to participate. You are welcome to waterbear as often as you like. You can do it just once, or make it a habit!
t's an excellent way to get to know fighters and see combat first hand, and it's a crucial safety task.
You can also just walk to the Waterbearer’s Point on the day of the event to volunteer and ask a Waterbearing Coordinator to brief you on your task.
Wear good footgear and if the weather is sunny and hot, wear a hat. Bring a small towel or face cloth or basket if you have any you can use in waterbearing service.
Review the signs of heatstroke and heat exhaustion:
TO HYDRATE & TO SERVE GUIDELINES:
Waterbearers serve at all events involving heavy physical activity in warm weather.
Waterbearing service is limited to fighters- get the Marshals and spectators to partake of water as well.
Waterbearers offer plain water (cool possibly, but not ice water) or Gatorade or similar sports drinks.
Waterbearers also offer fresh fruits to fighters, to address their mineral and fluid loss. Apples and Oranges cut into easily eaten pieces and pickles, generally speaking.
Each field Waterbearer should carry at least 2 water bottles and a cloth for wetting and cooling.
Waterbearers should regularly review the signs of heat cramps/exhaustion/stroke.
Waterbearers need to aware of the rules of combat areas, especially if they have not provided services in the past. DO NOT run onto a field without the Marshal's permission, and then only into an area where a HOLD! has been called and they have been called onto the field BY A MARSHAL
If a fighter requests that water be poured over their head, down the back, or front chest plate, the fighter may be given the water bottle to do so themselves. Under no circumstances should Waterbearers pour it themselves.
If waterbearers decide a fighter needs to be cooled rather than just re-hydrated, they should wet cloths and apply them to a fighters head, neck, armpits, etc. and call for a Chirurgeon.
Waterbearers' Point is set up for the use of the General Populace as well. Waterbearers often have to encourage them to use it, however.
For woods battles, only adults may enter the woods at the Marshal-in-Charge's discretion. They are to be paired with a Marshal unless a general HOLD! has been called.
Please sign in at Waterbearer's Point. You are important to us. You'll probably be contacted and asked your assessment of difficulty, what went right, what we could do better, and any needs to be addresses for next year’s event.
Waterbearing is a team effort that flows with the event, so please feel free to make suggestions as to how to make things run better at any given time.