Dehydration
- Family Gap Year
"- there were people shouting for help I thought they were teasing but when mum and savannah came everyone was coming of the beach a lady said that the people who were shouting for help saw a SHARK!! . That made our stomaches turn so we didn’t go into the water, instead we packed up and fled."
Eliza the day after her 'illness'
It's not rocket science - travelling to hot climates can, obviously, leave you dehydrated. But even being aware of the heat doesn't mean you can't be caught out. Add high heat to the dehydrating effects of pressurised cabins and long international flights and you can have a problem.
My eldest daughter got increasingly ill upon our arrival in Australia. She had a headache, she was lethargic and felt sick. Worried I took her to a Pharmacist first. He took one relaxed look and gave her a huge big coke. Within five minutes she was like a wilted flower reviving. 20 minutes later she was playing on the beach without a symptom in sight.
I had been so involved with, luggage, car hire, driving, navigating (or trying to) etc that I simply hadn’t monitored her fluid intake. (Bad mother of the year award on this one!)
Make sure you each carry at bottle of water onto the plane. And make sure everyone drinks!
Interestingly she didn’t feel in the slightest bit thirsty and had to be strongly encouraged to drink.
Dehydration Symptoms
Dehydration, left untreated, can be fatal. Symptoms of dehydration include:
- dizziness
- headache
- dark urine
- inability or painful urination
- shriveled skin (pinch skin test - pinch it and if it stays pinched you're dehydrated)
- dry mouth and nose
- weakness
- nausea and vomiting
Dehydration Symptoms in Children
- dry mouth and tongue
- no tears when crying
- no wet diapers for 3 hours or more
- sunken abdomen, eyes, or cheeks
- high fever
- listlessness or irritability
- skin that does not flatten when pinched and released
Treatment for Dehydration
Children can die from dehydration within a matter of days and it occurs when the body has lost too much fluid and electrolytes (the salts; potassium and sodium).
Instinct is just to give the sufferer loads of water and of course this is key but it doesn't contain electrolytes. You can find sodium in broths, soups and vegetable drinks and potassium in fruit juices, soft fruits, or vegetables.
A sports energy drink is great here too. Something like Gatorade or Lucozade. For children you can also purchase over the counter rehydration solutions that contain the nutrients they need.
Please note: If a victim of dehydration has a low blood pressure or very rapid pulse they may need to get fluids intravenously.
Disclaimer
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. The site owner makes no representation or warranty regarding the accuracy, reliability, completeness, currentness, or timeliness of the content, text or graphics. Links to other sites are provided for information only - they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites which may contain additional information about the symptoms of dehydration or dehydration pictures.
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