Is Dehydration Draining Your Employees?

Are your employees suffering from dehydration in the workplace?

Dehydration is a condition in which body fluid is lost and not replaced. There are three types of dehydration: where electrolytes are lost, where water is lost, and where there is equal loss of water and electrolytes in the body. The last one is the most common type of dehydration.

To prevent dehydration in the workplace, you should encourage your workers to drink a lot of water. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day is advised but that still depends on the activities one engages in. Workers involved in strenuous activity should drink more water because they lose more body fluid than the average person at home watching television. Rehydration salts and drinks can help combat dehydration and maintain the electrolytes needed. The infographic below gives some useful insights about dehydration in the workplace.

Infographic by Quill

What is the treatment for dehydration?

<br /> When the symptoms of severe dehydration are observed, it is best to immediately seek medical attention. Severe dehydration can cause neurological deficits and could even lead to death. Before the dehydration becomes severe, it is best to drink a lot of water or any of the oral rehydrating solutions that can easily be purchased. Volume per volume replacement is advised. It means that when an estimated 100ml of water is eliminated in the body (through stool for example), a 100 ml of water should also be taken in so that water balance in the body is maintained. In the hospital, intravenous therapy and mediations to stop the cause of water loss are advised.