LifeStraw Personal Water Filters

A person hiking in the desert should drink at least two gallons of water each day...or more in the hot summer. It can take several days to reach a destination. People cannot carry enough water for the trip, so they must rely on finding water sources along the way. If they are lucky, they find clean water, such as the caches humanitarian groups leave along known trails. If not, they drink whatever water they find in streams or ponds, in cattle troughs, or in puddles on the ground. This water can be contaminated with bacteria and parasites, resulting in gastrointestinal distress.

Samaritans have purchased LifeStraw personal water filters and given them to various shelters and aid stations, so that the filters can be distributed to travelers. These devices will filter out bacteria and parasites such as giardia, allowing a person to drink from a puddle on the ground. They are small and light, weighing only two ounces, so LifeStraws can easily be carried and used as part of a planned strategy or as an emergency measure to stay hydrated. Donate to LifeStraws here.

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