Philadelphia Area Airsoft

The Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration

Symptoms of dehydration usually begin with thirst and progress to more alarming manifestations as the need for water becomes more dire. The initial signs and symptoms of mild dehydration in adults appear when the body has lost about 2% of it's total fluid. These mild dehydration symptoms are often (but not limited to):

Thirst
Loss of Appetite
Dry Skin
Skin Flushing
Dark Colored Urine
Dry Mouth
fatigue or Weakness
Chills
Head Rushes

If the dehydration is allowed to continue unabated, when the total fluid loss reaches 5% the following effects of dehydration are normally experienced:

Increased heart rate
Increased respiration
Decreased sweating
Decreased urination
Increased body temperature
Extreme fatigue
Muscle cramps
Headaches
Nausea
Tingling of the limbs

When the body reaches 10% fluid loss emergency help is needed IMMEDIATELY! 10% fluid loss and above is often fatal! Symptoms of severe dehydration include:

Muscle spasms
Vomiting
Racing pulse
Shriveled skin
Dim vision
Painful urination
Confusion
Difficulty breathing
Seizures
Chest and Abdominal pain
unconsciousness

Be aware that these are not the only symptoms of severe dehydration that may manifest in response to dehydration, these are simply the most common. Symptoms of dehydration will differ from person to person because the body is a complex network of systems and everyone's body is different. When these systems are disturbed due to loss of fluids there will be several common symptoms shared by most bodies, but there may also be unusual or unexpected responses depending on the particular person in question. Age also plays a part in the manifestation of symptoms. Signs of dehydration in a child will not be the same as those experienced by a teenager, adult or in the elderly. Dehydration prevention is the best treatment for every age group. heatstroke is always around the corner.


Types of Heat Stroke

There are two types of heat stroke: classic and exertional. Classic heat stroke occurs in individuals who don't sweat normally, either because of a disease or certain medications. Without normal sweating, it's difficult for a person to handle hot, humid weather. The typical victim of classic heat stroke is an older adult who lives without air conditioning and has underlying health problems, such as heart disease or diabetes.

Classic heat stroke can take two or three days to develop, but it is very dangerous. Studies have shown that even a few hours of air conditioning each day can prevent the condition.

Exertional heat stroke, on the other hand, happens quickly--often after only a few hours of exercise. The skin is able to sweat, but the body still overheats because of the combination of hot weather, extra activity, and dehydration. Exertional heat stroke victims are usually young, otherwise healthy people, such as runners and football players.

Exertional heat stroke has long been studied by the military. The U.S. Marines at Parris Island, S.C., for example, have studied heat illness among new recruits. They found that even though soldiers train in the early morning and are required to drink lots of water, as many as 2 percent of them will suffer heat illnesses during the summer months, and about 1 percent in the winter. The risk of exertional heat injuries depends on the heat and humidity, the soldier's fitness level, and whether or not the person is used to hot weather.

Treatment of Heat Stroke

The treatment for both classic and exertional heat stroke is the same: Cool the victim as quickly as possible with whatever means available--for example, wet sheets, a fan, or ice under the armpits. (While the military routinely uses ice to cool heat stroke victims, some studies have shown this can also cause frostbite.) Give the victim liquids, if possible, and get medical attention immediately. Early treatment increases a heat stroke victim's chance of survival.