How do I Know When a Dehydrated Person Needs Fluids?

Although a person can survive without solids for some time, liquids are required to keep us alive. When a person becomes dehydrated, his life could be endangered. The most common causes for dehydration are vomiting, diarrhea, blood loss, malnutrition, and simple failure to drink enough water. Learn to recognize the symptoms of dehydration, so you'll be able to help someone who needs fluids.

Instructions

• 1

  Observe the person's behavior. One of the first signs of dehydration, according to Paige Holm at the University of Arizona, is thirst. This creates a dry, sticky feeling in the mouth and sometimes an unpleasant taste. If the person seems to be moving his mouth around like he is eating a piece of taffy, he might be experiencing an early stage of dehydration.

• 2

  Watch for more developed stages of dehydration such as low grade headaches or sudden fatigue. If the person is typically very active and begins to get irritable about stopping to rest, it would be prudent to guide him to a cool area and make sure he is given plenty fluids. In spite of the many hydrating drinks available on the market, water is the best option. Many sports drinks can be effective in replenishing needed salts and electrolytes.

• 3

  Be aware of more serious stages of dehydration. These include nausea, chills, increased heart rate, and the inability to sweat. Confusion is also common, and it may become difficult to get the dehydrated person to follow directions. Not only does a person experiencing these symptoms need water, he should to be taken to a medical facility for monitoring. All cases of extreme dehydration should be treated as a medical emergency, which includes emergency transport, and hospitalization with intravenous fluids.