A warning has been issued after the number of people attending A&E with dehydration has risen in Cumbria.
The A&E departments in north Cumbria have reported a marked increase in the amount of people visiting due to the effects of dehydration – with many being more frail and elderly.
Dr Adrian Clements, medical director at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS trust said: “We are experiencing unusually warm weather at the moment and that’s good for many people, however for our frail population it’s absolutely critical that they drink plenty of fluids and keep out of the sun.
“Maybe friends and relatives can help by checking in to see if others are ok and help with the use of a fan. We have seen a number of attendances in relation to heat and I think that it really important that people look after themselves in this glorious weather.
“Drinking plenty water is the most effective way for adults to avoid dehydration. If you are sick take little sips often. Infants and small children who are dehydrated shouldn’t be given large amounts of water alone however.
“This is because it can dilute the already low level of minerals in their body too much and lead to other problems. Instead, they should be given diluted squash or a rehydration solution which is available from pharmacies. You might find a teaspoon or syringe can be helpful for getting fluid into a young child.”
The trust added that dehydration is a very serious condition and can cause an individual to be more at risk of:
- Injuries from falling. It can cause disorientation and confusion making a fall more likely.
- Heatstroke; a heat injury, ranging in severity from mild heat cramps to heat exhaustion or potentially life-threatening heatstroke.
- Urinary and kidney problems, prolonged or repeated bouts of dehydration can cause urinary tract infections, kidney stones and even kidney failure.
- Seizures: due to an imbalance of electrolytes in your body
- Low blood volume shock (hypovolemic shock). This is one of the most serious, and sometimes life-threatening, complications of dehydration. It occurs when low blood volume causes a drop in blood pressure and a drop in the amount of oxygen in your body.
The trust said there are warning signs people can look out for to know if they are dehydrated. Some of the early warning signs of dehydration include:
- Feeling thirsty and lightheaded
- A dry mouth
- Tiredness
- Having dark coloured, strong-smelling urine
- Passing urine less often than usual
The body is affected even when it loses a small amount of fluid.
If a person is dehydrated, they should drink plenty of fluids such as water, diluted squash or fruit juice. These are much more effective than large amounts of tea or coffee.
Fizzy drinks may contain more sugar than a person needs and may be harder to take in large amounts.
If a person is finding it difficult to keep water down because they are vomiting, they should try drinking small amounts more frequently.
If left untreated, severe dehydration can be serious and cause fits (seizures), brain damage and death.
The trust added that there are several ways to look look after someone cared for in the hot weather.
A person being cared for may not have a sense of how much they’re drinking. They can be helped by:
- Making sure they drink at mealtimes
- Making drinking a social thing, like “having a cup of tea”
- Offering them food with a high water content – for example, soup, ice cream, jelly and fruits like melon
Drinking plenty of water is the easiest and most effective way to avoid dehydration. A person should ask for an urgent GP appointment or get advice from 111 if they have any of the following symptoms:
- Feeling unusually tired (or a child seems drowsy)
- Confused and disorientated
- Feeling dizzy when standing up and it does not go away
- Dark yellow urine or urinating less than normal (or a baby has fewer wet nappies)
- A child breathing quickly or has a fast heart rate
- A baby or child has few or no tears when they cry
- A baby has a soft spot on their head that sinks inwards (sunken fontanelle)
These can be signs of serious dehydration that need urgent treatment.
Infants and small children who are dehydrated shouldn’t be given large amounts of water alone as the main replacement fluid.
This is because it can dilute the already low level of minerals in their body too much and lead to other problems.
Instead, they should be given diluted squash or a rehydration solution which is available from pharmacies. A teaspoon or syringe can be helpful for getting fluid into a young child.
The trust said a baby may be dehydrated if they:
- Have a sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on their head
- Have few or no tears when they cry
- Have fewer wet nappies
- Are drowsy
Once dehydration has been treated, it’s important that a child’s fluid levels are maintained.
- Parents of babies are encouraged by the trust to do the following:
- Carry on breastfeeding baby or using formula – trying to give small amounts more often than usual
- Give baby small sips of extra water if they’re on formula or solid foods
- Give regular small sips of rehydration solution to replace lost fluids – ask a pharmacist to recommend one
- Give small children their usual diet
Parents should not make formula weaker or give young children fruit juice or fizzy drinks as it can make diarrhoea or vomiting worse.
Those who are worried about someone can call 111 for advice and in urgent and life threatening situations are asked to dial 999.
