Safety Tip

Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in…

Dehydration Symptoms May Include:

• Dry or sticky mouth

• Thirst

• Low or no urine output; concentrated urine appears dark yellow or amber

• Abdominal Pain

• Sunken eyes

• Dizziness or feeling lightheaded

• Headache

• Muscle weakness

• Lethargic or comatose (with severe dehydration)

Addition to symptoms of dehydration…

• Vomiting 

• Diarrhea

• The feeling of not being able to “Keep anything down”

If dehydration is suspected…

With mild to moderate dehydration from diarrhea, vomiting or fever, there can be improvement by drinking more water. Coffee, tea, and other caffeine containing beverages should be avoided. Fruit juice and soda can make diarrhea worse… However, the dehydration could be more severe than realized.

Medical personnel may utilize intravenous fluids, as the dehydration could be moderate to severe. When dehydration is recognized and treated promptly, the outcome is generally good. Complications: Untreated severe dehydration may result in seizures, permanent brain damage, or death… SEEK HELP EARLY!

Main Resources ~ Mayo Clinic and National Institutes of Health