PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-734

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 734

JANUARY 2014
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-734 - Page 30 of 33
57
PS 734
JAN 14
y
ou know about the most common dangers posed by cold winter weather:
•± Frostbite,
the freezing of body tissue caused by exposure to freezing temperatures.
•± Hypothermia,
the lowering of core body temperature.
But there’s also a third danger that occurs in
cold weather, one that’s often overlooked. It’s
dehydration, the loss of bodily Fuids. It occurs
when you lose more Fuid than you take in. Lose
enough and your body can’t carry out its normal
functions.
We usually think of dehydration as something
that takes place during the hot summer months.
But you can get dehydrated any time of the
year. Labor long and hard enough in cold winter
weather and you’ll lose Fuids. We just don’t
give much thought to drinking lots of water
when we’re out in the cold.
Causes
•± Not±drinking±
enough±water
•± Severe±diarrhea
•± Vomiting
•± High±fever
•± Too±much±sweating
•± Increased±urination
Symptoms
Left untreated, mild to moderate
dehydration can worsen to
severe
dehydration.
Here are the symptoms:
•±
Dry mouth
•±
Intense thirst
•±
Lack of sweating
•±
Lack of urination
•±
Extremely dark urine
•±
Confusion
•±
Dry skin that lacks elasticity and doesn’t
“bounce back” when pinched
•±
Low blood pressure
•±
Rapid heartbeat
•±
Rapid breathing
Symptoms of dehydration range
from mild to moderate to severe,
depending on Fuid loss.
Here are the symptoms of
mild to
moderate dehydration:
•±
Dry mouth and lips
•±
Fatigue
•±
Thirst
•±
Decreased urination
•±
Dry skin
•±
Headache
•±
Dizziness
•±
Lightheadedness
•±
Constipation
Prevention
You±can±get±dehydrated±
any±time±of±the±year!
Winter Safety…
water
:
It’s
NOT
Just for
Summer
Anymore
Preventing
dehydration
is
easier
than
treating it.
Drink plenty of
water.
Sip
the water.
Don’t gulp it.
Your
body can more easily
absorb water if you
sip some every few
minutes.
if you’re exercising,
hiking or doing physical
work, drink plenty of
water even if you don’t
feel thirsty.
Eat foods
with high
water
content,
such as
fruits and
vegetables.
Pay attention to your
body and recognize
signs of thirst.
if you’re
severely
dehydrated,
seek medical
care at once.
Drink
water
BEFORE
you
become
thirsty
Here are the
typical causes of
dehydration…
Carry
plenty±of±
water
quick
inventory,
every-
body…
gloves?
Check!
Check!
Check!
boots?
water?
734 56-57.indd
1-2
12/3/13
5:06 PM
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