Medical
Dehydration
Move the person to a cool place and let them sip water or an oral rehydration solution slowly. Severe dehydration — confusion, no urine output, rapid pulse — needs an ambulance.
Move the person to a cool place and let them sip water or an oral rehydration solution slowly. Severe dehydration — confusion, no urine output, rapid pulse — needs an ambulance.
Signs
- Thirst, dry mouth
- Dark yellow urine or no urine
- Headache, dizziness, fatigue
- Sunken eyes, dry skin
- Rapid pulse and breathing (severe)
What to do
- Move to a cool place and rest.
- Sip water or an oral rehydration solution slowly — small frequent sips are better than gulping.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol and sugary drinks.
- For mild dehydration in children, give an oral rehydration solution (e.g. Hydralyte).
- Call 000 if the person is confused, has stopped passing urine, has a rapid pulse, or is unconscious.
Questions & answers
What's the best drink for dehydration?
Plain water or an oral rehydration solution (e.g. Hydralyte). Avoid caffeine, alcohol and sugary drinks — they make dehydration worse.
How can I tell if dehydration is severe?
Confusion, no urine output, sunken eyes, very rapid pulse and breathing, or loss of consciousness — Call 000.
How do I rehydrate a young child?
Frequent small sips of an oral rehydration solution. Avoid juice and soft drink, which can worsen diarrhoea.
Related topics
Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Heat exhaustion is treated by moving to a cool place, removing clothing and sipping cool water. Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency — call 000 and cool the person rapidly by any means available.
Diabetic Emergencies
If a person with diabetes is confused, sweaty or unwell, assume low blood sugar (hypo) and give sugary food or drink if they can swallow. Call 000 if they do not improve, lose consciousness, or seem severely dehydrated.
Fainting (Syncope)
Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness from reduced blood flow to the brain. Lay the person flat, raise their legs above heart level, and look for an underlying cause if recovery is slow.
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