Michigan has been hit with an amazing heat wave causing many power outages. Residents have had to endure sweltering heat with heat indexes reaching 110 degrees Fahrenheit in their homes and businesses. These increased temperatures elevate health risks and if there is already sickness the situation could become even more dangerous.
Fluids are Essential to Life.
The greatest part of the human body consists of fluid. When fluid losses are greater than our fluid intake the balance is very unhealthy and causes a situation called dehydration.
Sickness, infancy, and old age increases the health risks posed by dehydration.
Dehydration becomes a bigger risk with illnesses that include vomiting, diarrhea, decreased fluid intake, and or sweating or when the patient is taking diuretics to increase their urine output. Dehydration also accompanies diabetes and excessive blood losses. When not enough fluids are taken into the body, the minerals called electrolytes are lost very quickly. Blood vessels may collapse and without proper care death can result.
Again, dehydration can be life threatening particularly in the very young or the elderly.
Dehydration is not particular about who it attacks and can cause serious complications for anyone involved but the young and old are particularly vulnerable.
Some Important Signs to Watch for in Dehydration are:
- Crying with no sign of tears
- Dark colored urine
- Dry mouth
- Extreme thirst
- Inability to urinate for 12 hours or less than 3 urinations within 24 hours.
- Pale, mottled skin
- Saliva which is less fluid, called “sticky”
- Sunken eyes
These signs should signal the need to get immediate medical care.
It is imperative that fluids be replaced in the body quickly to not cause permanent loss or death. While sports drink may replace fluids they can also aggravate diarrhea so do not assume a bottle of Gatorade will solve the problem. It may not.
When replacing fluids refrain from drinking alcohol or caffeinated beverages as they increase the loss of fluids!
Drinks such as Pedialyte, Lytren and Rehydralate are designed to replace lost fluids in children and are beneficial in rehydrating and replacing lost electrolytes, but if the patient is experiencing diarrhea and or vomiting they may need medical treatment to stop serious problems. Do not second guess the need for medical care but welcome the advice and care of medical staff when dealing with dehydration. The patient may need an intravenous solution of saline, blood plasma or whole blood to replace fluids and may need further treatment for other symptoms. Please do not ignore these signs. Dehydration is a completely treatable issue when treated in a timely manner, so please do not hesitate to seek help.
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Wonderful educational information about dehydration.Very well composed.
Roberta, thanks so much for your support. I almost lost a son to a heat stroke. Dehydration is very scary!
Great words to think about during the summer season. The one about the crying without any tears, I never knew about. This article should be read by all parents especially during the summer months.
Jenny, thanks so much. You are very knowledgeable about child care so I am appreciative of your support. Thanks so much.
Those are the signs that parents should give eyes on, and they should never neglect the dehydration the child is experiencing.
Chan, you are so right. Parents have to be ever vigilant.
You are very kind to say that. We love writing and most of us write at numerous sites. Take care and God bless!
I saw that you left a comment for Chan regarding writing. If you love to write you will find thoughts flowing from your mind impatient to be placed on paper. I hope you seriously consider writing as it is a wonderful outlet, great therapy and such a fantastic way to express yourself. Enjoy!
You do not agree that maintaining hydrating is essential to life? I am puzzled by your response while I thank you for taking the time to leave it. I nearly lost a son to a heat stroke. His kidneys shut down and he was hospitalized for 3 days receiving intravenous fluids around the clock. Our body requires enough fluids to perform its required tasks.
Thanks for your support. Take care and God bless.