Monday, June 6, 2016

Being Hydrated

STAYING HYDRATED

If you live in certain parts of Wyoming, staying hydrated might be a challenge.  Our summers do not always feel HOT.  We have this ongoing breeze that feels like it takes away the heat.  But in reality it is still hot. 

SO HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD A PERSON DRINK IN ONE DAY?
Thirst is the first sign that you need to drink.  “If you get thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.”
The average that a person should drink is 8 glasses of 8 ounces of water a day.  Wow, that sounds like a lot.  “For every pound of sweat you lose, that’s a pint of water you’ll need to replenish.”

Keeping the body hydrated helps the heart more easily pump blood through the blood vessels, which in turn helps the vessels to work a lot easier.  This helps your heart not to have to work as hard. 
 
 Signs of serious dehydration are leg cramps, feeling light headed, and perspiring to the point of your clothes being wet to the touch.  The quickest way to help a person in this position is to wet them down gently from head to toe with cool water and take off any extra clothing they would have on. Then, if you have a sports drink, that should be given to the person if they can drink.  If the person does not recover, then the emergency team should be called immediately. 











Information from the National Health Council and American Heart Association. 

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