Stay Hydrated During Heatwave

With heat and high humidity expected this week, Medstar reminds everyone to stay hydrated.

Hydration is important during hot weather because it helps your body function properly and can prevent serious health issues. When you sweat, your body loses fluids and heat, so drinking fluids helps replace what you’ve lost and maintain normal body temperature. Dehydration can lead to heat exhaustion, fatigue, dizziness, and other health issues. 

Experts recommend nine 8-ounce (oz) cups of liquid a day for women and 13 8-ounce (oz) cups a day for men. Eight cups of water a day is a good rule of thumb. Also, don’t drink more than 48 ounces (1 and a half quarts) of water or other fluids per hour, as this can cause a medical emergency.  You should avoid caffeinated beverages and drinks with added sugar, which can dehydrate you. Eat foods that are high in water content, like oranges, grapefruits, melons, celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, and lettuce. A reliable indicator of your hydration level is the color of your urine. If your urine is clear and pale, you probably don’t need as many fluids. If it’s yellow, you should keep drinking water.

“While we love the summer months and we love serving our community, we don’t want to see you suffering from heat stroke or any heat-related issues”, said Kolby Miller, CEO of Medstar. “This time of year, everyone wants to be outside, enjoying the sunshine, but that comes at a cost if you’re not careful. Another big problem is folks without air conditioning. We need everyone doing wellness checks on their older family members and neighbors. If you or someone you know doesn’t have air conditioning, check with your township and city halls for local cooling centers.”

About Medstar

Medstar is Michigan’s largest 911 EMS and mobile healthcare provider, serving more than 190,000 patients annually throughout lower Michigan. Created in 1993 by two local hospitals committed to quality EMS, the nonprofit agency now serves communities in nine counties. It provides care, air medical, and interfacility clinical transportation for Ascension-Michigan, Henry Ford Health, and the McLaren Healthcare Corporation. For more information, visit www.medstarambulance.org.


For additional information, contact Medstar Public Information Officer, Patrick Linabury,at [email protected] or 586.738.9166