Dehydration occurs when the body has too little water. It usually results from not drinking enough water, particularly when working or exercising outside in the heat.

Small amounts of water are depleted from our bodies every time we exhale or sweat, as well as through the urine and stool. When we don’t drink enough water to replace what is lost, we become dehydrated. Dehydration in its severest form can be deadly.

• Extreme thirst, especially accompanied by a dry mouth or a swollen tongue
• Exhaustion
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Faintness
• Mental confusion
• Heart palpitations
• Dark, discolored urine
• Decreased urine output

Left untreated, dehydration can become severe. For immediate dehydration treatment, you should take the following precautions:

• Stop all activity
• Rest in a cool, shaded place, or go indoors where it is cool
• Drink water and/or sports drinks to rehydrate
• Bathe your wrists, ankles, and neck in cool water