DEHYDRATION AND YOU

Welcome to another post of our SAFETY SOLUTIONS where we share information on various topics which we hope you find interesting and helpful in some ways. As a reminder any information presented should be confirmed by medical professionals if you have any questions.

SNEAKY AND DANGEROUS

During the heat of our summer this will sneak up on you hitting you like a wall of bricks in one moment. The combination of high temps outside plus warm air in homes or offices dry out our bodies if fluids are not replaced often, very often. Most people say they did not notice the slow build up of the dehydration until the hard effects bring them to their knees. The loss of electrolytes in the blood system can toss a wrench into the function of many of our organs.  The heart, kidneys and the brain to name a few. 

Continued exposure to higher temps plus not drinking enough fluids over days will result in what I call a cumulative downward spiral to disaster.  

PREVENTION IS EASY

As with so many parts of life preventing bad things happening can be easy if only, (that common phrase- if only) you and I take time to follow what we already know. 

• Avoid the heat if we can, by staying inside, working in the cooler parts of the day.
• Take frequent breaks in our jobs to get out of the sun or hot areas. 
• Replace the fluids lost by drinking more water and or electrolyte drinks (watch the sugar intake)
• Taking time to just feel how our bodies are adjusting to the heat throughout the day.
• Even in office settings we do need to increase our fluid intake levels. 
• Outdoors wear protective clothing to keep the sun off, such as wide brim hats, long sleeves which can wick away the heat. 
• Walk the dog early in the morning before the ground heats up and can burn sensitive paws.

SYMPTOMS OF DEHYDRATION INCLUDE

A person who is getting dehydrated may have any one or number of these signs which they may not be aware of but other people can notice. 

• Thirst
  • Headache
    • Dizziness
      • Fast or abnormal heart beat
        • Confusion
          • Nausea
            • Lethargy
            • There are other symptoms but the above are some of the most common. All you need is one to make you suspect dehydration has started.

HELP IS CLOSE AT HAND

Drink water it is that simple, the water does not need to be cold as temped water will be absorbed quickly into the blood system. Cold water or cooler water is of course refreshing to our taste buds. The water will start to replace the fluids lost but drink it in moderation so not to upset your stomach. Replacing the lost electrolytes is very important to keep our bodies in balance. When possible, drink an electrolyte drink or add that powder to your water container. This will help bring you back closer to in balance. There are a number of these drink supplements on the market with many flavors available. It can take anywhere from an hour to several hours before you start to feel more normal. Knowing this it is a good idea to get out of the heat, keep drinking fluids and do not drive or operate any machinery. 

If you feel any or many of the symptoms after replacing a more than good amount of fluid, it is best to seek medical help in case other medical conditions have been triggered by the dehydration. 

Some folks may need a full day or more to not feel so exhausted after suffering this condition. Don’t feel bad it is a normal reaction many times.

PREVENTION

Keep up with your fluid intake as you work to avoid overheating

Take frequent breaks in the job if you can

Wear protective clothing when outdoors but not too tight as you want your skin to breath

Drinking alcohol will dry you out so avoid those drinks when in the heat, save them for later at home if you choose to but fill yourself up with water first. 

Check on any senior citizens, anyone who has been ill or is recovering from a medical condition.  Babies can get dehydrated fast and are not able to tell you so check for over heating or how often they have wet a diaper in the past hour or so. 

The preceding is just the tip of the iceberg regarding this topic but I hope it has made some folks more aware of the dangers of dehydration.  Always happy to hear any comments on this or any of my posts. jerry@tucsonsafety.com