Speaking of Safety
Approximately 60% of the adult human body is water, essential for bodily functions such as digestion, circulation, and toxin elimination. Dehydration in the workplace can lead to health issues and accidents, making proper hydration a form of personal protective equipment. Severe dehydration can cause heat stress, reduced mental performance, and impaired reaction time. Simply drinking water may not be enough for those working in hot conditions.
Sodium plays an important role in allowing the human body to function properly, but most people are consuming far more than their bodies really need—and this can cause more harm than good. The American Heart Association found that an astounding 90% of Americans consume too much sodium, with an average of 3,400 milligrams each day. Only 15% of this sodium is naturally occurring. More than 70% of it comes from processed and restaurant foods, with an additional 10% added during cooking or eating.
Everyone knows staying hydrated is important. But not everyone really understands what’s in store for them if they let dehydration take over. In this article, we’ll clear thing up by going over what dehydration does to your body. And we’ll end with some practical tips for staying hydrated throughout the workday. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that effects of dehydration are a lot worse than just feeling a bit parched.
Education is the key to prevention. Prepare your employees now on the dangers of heat stress and download a complete guide to Heat Stress 101!