The weekly safety moment from Monday, 16 July covered hydration as well, however it is important to remember that staying properly hydrated is so very important. The summer heat can cause heat related incidents and illnesses if adequate fluids are not consumed. Water is one of the most important components of our daily diets. Water helps lubricate internal surfaces, flushes toxins through the kidneys, transports nutrients throughout the body, maintains healthy blood pressure, regulates body temperature and sustains healthy vital organs.
The Summer heat will bring on more instances of dehydration due to larger losses of body fluid through sweating. Be conscious of the following symptoms to help prevent or treat dehydration:
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Fever
The National Institute of Medicine recommends about three liters of fluid for males and two liters for women. This includes all beverages like coffee, juice, water, tea, milk etc. Exercise and excessive sweating cause extra water loss and create higher fluid needs. Be sure to maintain proper hydration before, during and after strenuous activities, especially in the summer heat.
When hydrating in the summer heat, water is your best option. Sports beverages may be utilized to replenish your body through strenuous exercise, excessive fluid and electrolyte losses through sweat. Choose beverages with lower calorie content and lower added sugar. Juices, sodas and sweetened coffee beverages can add unnecessary simple carbohydrates to your diet and can dehydrate you faster.
Together we can prevent all heat related incidents and illnesses.
The Safety Moment bulletin is a periodic communication on safety issues from the G4S Americas Safety Group.
