Signs of dehydration
When dehydrated, you are likely to experience mild to severe thirst
When becoming dehydrated, you are likely to experience (in order of increasing dehydration):
- mild to severe thirst
- dry lips and tongue
- decreased amount of urine passed that appears darker than normal
- increased breathing and heart rate
- weakness or light-headedness (particularly when standing)
- dry, wrinkly-looking skin with loss of skin elasticity
- sunken eyes (in severe cases).
If you experience any of these symptoms, you need to immediately:
- move to a cool place that has circulating air, such as a site shed (air-conditioned where possible) or even the cabin of a vehicle
- loosen all tight clothing and remove unnecessary garments, including PPE (mask, apron, overalls, etc)
- drink frequent, small amounts of cool (not cold) water
- seek medical advice if your symptoms don’t improve.