Dehydration info, WLS or not

I posted this on the mainboard, but thought you all would like to see it too. I am starting to see ALOT of post of people wanting to know if they are dehyrated or having gone to the ER for IV fluids. So I thought I would make a post on this. Prevention is important. Yes, we drink alot of water, 64 to 100oz. a day, but that isn't always enough. The weather is getting warmer and we are out in the sun alot now. There are steps to take to keep you from getting sick from this. First off, lets say what dehydration can do to you and why it has to be treated right away. Water and fluids in our bodies carry the electorlites we need to run our bodies on. Electrolites are the source of our body's power, to run things like the heart. The heart is an electrical object. That is how it knows when to beat, and more important, when not to beat. If the electolites get too low, the heart will stop beating at the correct intervals, this will pretty much make the heart useless when pumping blood, causing major problems, like death. Ok that is one thing now how to prevent it. When you are going to be outside or in the heat, you have to already be hydrated. That means you have to make sure your water intake is up a couple of days before you are going to be in those conditions. It is almost impossible to rehydrate in extreme conditions, so you just go down hill. Also, if you drink sodas, coffee or alchohol, you are dehydrating yourself. For every one of those drinks, you need one and a half to 2 equal amounts of water. This is very important. Now when you are outside, you need to protect your body temp, something else we tend to have problems with now. One, you HAVE to wear a hat. The head not only is the biggest loss of heat, it also absorbs it the most also. So keep it covered. SUNBLOCK, it is not just for cancer. If you get sunburned, the skin can no longer cool itself by sweating. It also affects your body temperature by keeping it hotter and working hard to cool it down. Wear light colored cotton clothing. That allows your body to breath. Polyester and other man made material does not allow this. Signs of dehydration and when to seek help. This can depend on the person. But the major warning signs are: chills, dizziness, sleepiness, heart palpitations. If you have any of these signs, only need one, then go to the ER and get checked. It might not be all that bad, but it isn't worth the risks. Hope this helps some. It is pretty basic, but should be enough to help some. Have a great summer. PS I have learned about this because of the living history I do. I have run an acting guild for 18 years and have to watch over my troup at all times. These tips have worked well for me and have been passed down from Docs that also work these events. They are not the only things that involve dehydration, if you feel bad, go to the ER or call your Doc. I am not in the medical field, I am just posting on what i have learned over the years