Summer is here and with it Canadians turn to sun-filled outdoor activities, which means they need to take a few simple steps to reduce their risk of suffering dehydration and heat-related ailments over the summer months.
“To safeguard against dangerous bouts of dehydration, adults and children alike, need to continuously refresh their bodies with fluids, especially water and sports drinks,” says Hugh McDonald, executive vice-president of sales and marketing at Canadian Thermos Products.
“Unfortunately,” McDonald adds, “many Canadians overlook the importance of keeping themselves adequately hydrated while enjoying their favourite summer outdoor activities. Even low exertion recreations like gardening, fishing, or sunbathing can pose a health risk as, every summer, thousands of Canadians are admitted to hospital suffering the ill effects of heat exhaustion or dehydration.
The problems from hydration can be severe, ranging from dry mouth, nausea, fatigue and dizziness to potential kidney failure or even death in the most extreme cases.”
According to medical experts, adults should consume approximately 200 ml (seven ounces) of water or sport drinks every 15 minutes while performing moderate levels of exercise.
Even when not involved in any strenuous activity, the average person needs to consume two to two and a half litres of fluid per day to keep their body functioning normally. In hot weather, fluid intake should be even greater.
When temperatures soar above 30 degrees Celsius, it’s important for anyone spending time outdoors to drink water, or other rehydration drinks, every 15 to 30 minutes, whether or not they feel thirsty.
During these conditions people prefer fresh temperature-controlled beverages. In response, Thermos has developed new insulated hydration bottles. Available in many sizes up to 1.5 litres, they keep and dispense refreshing fluids on demand.
