(Concord, CA)- American Medical Response (AMR) reminds citizens of Contra Costa to stay hydrated when dealing with hot weather. This summer you might be planning to get outside and partake in a variety of fun activities. But whether you’re planning to hike, play ball or just relax in the water, it’s important that you stay hydrated.
AMR of Contra Costa offers these summer safety tips for staying hydrated:
- Have fluid source readily available – Plan ahead and make sure you drink enough water throughout the day and night to replenish fluids lost during activities.
- Water will do the trick – For most people water will be sufficient enough to keep you properly hydrated. If you are working really hard, you might need to replace calories that are lost due to perspiration. A soda or sports drink can help with fluid and calorie replacement.
- Be careful when drinking alcohol – If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. A good strategy is to alternate alcoholic beverages with water. With alcohol you can only count on about 75 percent of the beverage ending up in the body as fluid.
- Listen to your body – When the temperatures and activity levels increase it’s even more important to listen to your body and take breaks if you start to feel light-headed, feel overheated or if you develop a headache. These are warning signs that something is not right. Don’t ignore them!
- Don’t take in too much fluid – It might sound a little strange but be careful of drinking too much fluid. This can lead to the opposite of dehydration – overhydration, or hypernatremia. The rule of thumb is to not drink if you are not thirsty, if you feel water sloshing around in your stomach or you don’t feel well and have been taking in fluids.
How to avoid dehydration
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, to avoid dehydration, active people should drink at least 16- 20 ounces of fluid one to two hours before an outdoor activity. After that, you should consume 6 to 12 ounces of fluid every 10 to 15 minutes you are outside. When you are finished with the activity, you should drink more.
Stay safe, have fun and have a great summer!
About American Medical Response
American Medical Response Inc. (www.amr.net), America’s leading provider of medical transportation, provides services in 40 states and the District of Columbia. More than 18,000 AMR paramedics, EMTs, RNs and other professionals work together to transport more than 3 million patients nationwide each year. AMR’s Contra Costa County division employs over 350 professionals and transports over 60,000 patients annually. The company is a subsidiary of Envision Healthcare Corporation, which is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colo.
