Summer is almost here, and as the days grow longer and warmer more and more kids are at risk from suffering from easily avoidable bouts of dehydration.
Symptoms that indicate dehydration in young children include severe headaches, distorted vision, and ultimately vomiting. It is common for children to appear fine one moment and severely distraught the next and it often is difficult for parents to get their child to rehydrate once the symptoms has kicked in and the child becomes physically ill and often mentally anquished.
Dehydration is the condition a human body reaches when it does not have enough water inside to continue to function properly. Signs of dehydration include being thirsty, feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or tired, having a rapid heartbeat, dry lips and mouth, and dark colored or strong-smelling urine.
Our bodies rehydrates through drinking and eating. Our bodies lose water through sweating, vomiting, suffering from diarrhea, going to the bathroom, and even small amounts are lost through breathing. Sometimes these conditions are caused by sickness, other times these conditions are created through playing outside, participating in sports both indoors and outdoors, and through every day activities at school, home, or at the park.
It is important to remember is that our bodies do not work properly if they are not regularly hydrated. Most of us have been taught that drinking 8 glasses of water a day (64 ounces) will help us avoid becoming dehydrated. In most cases this is true, but if you are sick, or are participating in physical activity in warm or humid conditions your body may need more to continue to ensure your body functions properly.
That is why it is important to remember to drink water before participating in any activity to ensure that your body maintains proper levels of hydration at all times. If you are feeling thirsty, that is a sign that your body is feeling the stress of dehydration – so drinking lots of fluids in advance of any activity is as important as hydrating regularly during any sports or recreation activities you may participate in.
Milk is a good substitute for water, but juices, sodas, sports drinks, and other types of energy drinks are not good replenishment choices, especially for kids. Many of these drinks contain too much sugar, or in some cases small amounts of caffeine which actually makes your body eliminate water from your system - which causes your body to dehydrate more quickly. Water and Milk are the best sources of liquid nutrition and replenishment for young children.
So as the days grow hotter and summer vacations begin, make sure to encourage your children to make healthy choices about when and how much water they drink each day. More importantly, teach your children to listen to their bodies and if the symptoms of dehydration become apparent, instruct them on how to take immediate steps to ensure that their body is not dehydrated and is working properly so they can enjoy a long and fun summer vacation.
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