What you need to know about... dehydration

Know the risks

Dehydration
Dehydration is a condition where the body does not have enough fluid (water) to work properly. Dehydration can happen very quickly or very slowly. Severe dehydration is a life-threatening condition.
These conditions and events cause a person to be more at risk for dehydration:
Not being able to tell someone you're thirsty; Strenuous physical activity; Exposure to hot weather; Diabetes; Kidney disease; Use of some medications, such as diuretics (water pills); Needing assistance with getting and drinking drinks; Refusing to eat or drink or not eating and drinking
enough sometimes related to mental health issues such as paranoia; Excessive drooling or fluid falling from mouth when drinking; Illness that causes a person to lose fluids through diarrhea or vomiting.

Know the signs

These are signs that a person may be dehydrated:
Urinating (peeing) less; Urine that is dark yellow or brown, possibly with a strong odor; Dry mouth; Cracked lips; Dry skin; Extreme thirst; Dizziness or lightheadedness; Feeling tired or having a hard time waking up; Weight loss; Altered vital signs (like running a fever, rapid pulse, etc.); Pale skin; Weakness; Skin that lacks elasticity (when you gently pull a fold of skin at the
wrist, it takes a while to return to its original position).
Know what to do

What to do to prevent dehydration:

Encourage persons supported who can safely do so to drink plenty

of fluids.

Where recommended, document fluid intake and/or output.

For persons unable or unwilling to drink, offer foods with high

fluid content, such as watermelon, pudding, or Jell-O.

Avoid exposure to high heat and humidity;
Catch it early. Recognize signs of dehydration and notify the nurse.

IN AN EMERGENCY:
Severe dehydration can lead to shock. Call 9-1-1 immediately if the person:
becomes extremely lightheaded; loses consciousness (becomes

unresponsive);

has gray or pale skin or blue lips;

is confused or has a sudden change

State of Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

in behavior.
This Dehydration Fact Sheet is # 5 in a series of Improving Health Outcomes Fact Sheets. It was developed with reference to resources available through the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities and the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services. This Fact Sheet is not a substitute for clinical evaluation or physician's orders.