At the end of this module, you will be able to:
- List the four main aspects of keeping properly hydrated
- State how to stay well hydrated
- Explain how people get dehydrated
- List some ways to avoid dehydration
- Describe some first aid for mild dehydration
- Explain what to do if someone has severe dehydration
The following key questions are answered in this module:
What is dehydration?
A person is dehydrated if their body doesn't have enough water to function properly. This can be a relatively mild issue or even a serious one, potentially causing death.
Why is it important to stay properly hydrated?
Because being dehydrated can make us feel uncomfortable or sick, and in serious cases it can lead to death.
How can one stay properly hydrated?
Drink lots of fluids on a regular basis, know what causes your body to become dehydrated, and re-hydrate as necessary.
What makes us dehydrated?
Not consuming enough fluids, heat, working hard, and losing bodily fluids, including when vomiting or suffering diarrhea.
What are some symptoms of dehydration?
Symptoms include thirst; dry mouth, skin, and mucous membranes; lack of sweat; dark urine; lack of urine; sunken eyes; skin that doesn't bounce back when pinched; fast heart beat; fever; delirium; and unconsciousness.
What is the proper first aid for mild and severe dehydration?
For mild dehydration, remove the person from heat, have the person rest, and have the person drink small amounts of water over a few hours. For more extreme cases, summon emergency medical assistance.
Below is a transcript of the video sample provided for this module:
We take water in with the fluids we drink and with the foods we eat, and we lose water when we sweat or use the bathroom. Avoiding dehydration, then, has four main aspects. One, knowing dehydration is potentially dangerous and should be avoided. Two, knowing it's important to get enough water into our bodies, primarily from drinking water or similar beverages. Three, knowing to be aware of and limit the amount of water we lose during the day. And four, knowing how to monitor the amount of water in our bodies and our level of dehydration.
Use the additional resources and links below to learn more about this topic:
- U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) – www.osha.gov
- OSHA’s Occupational Heat Exposure Safety and Health Topic - www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatstress/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – www.cdc.gov
- CDC/NIOSH Hydration Blog Article - http://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2011/08/12/heat-2/
- CDC Heat Stress webpage - www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/default.html