Safety Tip of the Week - Hydration – Heat-Related Illness

By the time you feel thirsty, you already are behind in fluid replacement.
Remember the following best practices when working in hot environments:

Make sure to drink one cup (8 ounces) of water every 15-20 minutes.
This equals around one quart (32 ounces) per hour.
Drinking at shorter intervals is more effective than drinking larger amounts infrequently.
Do not drink more than 1.5 quarts (48 ounces) per hour. Drinking too much water or other fluids, such as sports or energy drinks, can cause lower sodium levels in the blood.

Water is the best thing to drink. Energy drinks often contain caffeine. High caffeine levels can place added strain on your body.
In general, eating regular meals with adequate water intake is sufficient to maintain water and electrolyte balance. For periods of perspiration lasting several hours, sports drinks with electrolytes are another option to replace the salt lost during perspiration.
Be aware that heavy consumption of sports drinks will add unnecessary calories to your diet due to the added sugar.