Signs of Dehydration, Exhaustion, and Heat Stroke

If you’re going on a road trip, then you’re likely always on the go. Whether you’ve been on the road for days or are exploring different national parks in the desert, it’s easy to forget about proper hydration and nutrition. By prioritizing healthy road trip snacks, as well as rest and hydration, you can both have fun on your trip and stay safe. No matter what you’re doing, it’s always important to be aware of signs of dehydration, exhaustion, and heat stroke, especially while exploring in the summer. To help you plan a safe trip, here is how you can recognize and treat such health concerns.

Dehydration

What Are the Signs?

Dehydration is when your body is losing more fluid than you are drinking. It’s pretty easy to recognize when your body needs water—you’ll usually feel thirsty and experience many other symptoms. The most common ones to look out for in adults are thirst, dry mouth, headache, wrinkled and dry skin, darker urine, and dizziness.

In infants, you may notice no tears when they cry, no wet diapers for hours, sleepiness, dry mouth, droopy eyes, and irritability.

What to Do if Someone Becomes Dehydrated 

If you feel like you are starting to get dehydrated, you should be replacing lost fluid by hydrating properly. Drinks that include electrolytes, which have sodium, will help your body retain the water you are trying to replenish in your body. You can prevent dehydration by drinking water throughout the day consistently. Women need about 2.7 liters per day and men need about 3.7 liters per day. If you are doing an activity outside, especially in the heat, you should aim to drink a little more than the daily recommendation since your body will be losing more fluids.

Exhaustion

What Are the Signs?

Everyone becomes tired every now and then. It’s normal to feel sleepy after a long day of work or driving from one destination to another. Although being tired is common and not usually concerning, over-exhaustion can become dangerous, especially if you’re driving your RV for hours. To avoid burnout behind the wheel, you should try following the 3-3-3 rule on your trip.

Common signs of exhaustion are irritability, lack of focus and memory, trouble staying awake, falling asleep by accident, and lack of energy overall.

What to Do if Someone Becomes Exhausted 

If you become too exhausted, you should focus on getting a good night's sleep or taking a power nap, if possible. In addition, avoid drinking too much caffeine and implement some physical activity, such as hiking, to improve symptoms. If you still can’t get good rest, you should talk to your doctor.

Heat Stroke

What Are the Signs?

A heat stroke is a very serious health-related illness that requires immediate medical attention since it can be deadly. It is caused by the body’s inability to cool itself down in very hot or humid environments, such as deserts. Signs of heat stroke to look for are an elevated core temperature (above 104-degrees fahrenheit), rapid pulse, confusion, hot, red and clammy skin, seizures, and lack of consciousness. Heat exhaustion is different from a heat stroke and often includes symptoms of sweating, nausea and/or vomiting, cold and clammy skin, lightheaded and dizziness, weakness, and a heavy pulse. 

What to Do if Someone Has a Heat Stroke

If someone is experiencing signs of a heat stroke, call 911. While waiting for medical help, a heat stroke can be treated by placing the person into a shaded area, removing as many layers of their clothing as possible, getting them off their feet, and having them hydrate.

While RVing, your health should be your number one priority. By knowing how to recognize signs of dehydration, exhaustion, and heat stroke, you’ll be able to have a healthier and safer road trip overall. In addition, be sure to prepare for you and your family’s medical care and health care while RVing so you always have a plan for everyone’s health.

See you on the road!