James Storrar

Fluid Awareness for Care Workers Workbook FLUAWAEiE Outcome: To understand the importance of water and fluids for human beings To gain an understanding of the importance of regular hydration for clients. Outcome: To understand the importance of water and fluids for human beings Why do we need water and what is it: Water: What is it ? Water, exists in nature in three physical states: liquid, gas, and solids, and all these forms are useful to human beings. Water has become a widespread life-sustaining substance, comprising 50–90% of living materials and covering nearly three-fourths of the Earth’s surface. All living organisms are composed mainly of water, and it is important for our very survival, let alone the functioning of our body. Why do we need water: Water is a major component of the human body, making up 50–60% of it’s total weight. It is vital as you can see from the list ,for many important body functions, from flushing out waste to lubricating the joints. The human body constantly loses water throughout the day through urinating, sweating, and breathing. Every day, the body will lose eight to 12 cups FLUAWAEiE of water through breathing, perspiring, and urine and bowel movements. In general, men need at least 12 cups of fluid daily, while women require a minimum of nine cups. What does water do in the body All body cells, organs, and tissues require water to function. Generally, a person can only survive without water for a few days. It Maintains a Normal Body Temperature: Water regulates our bodies internal temperature by distributing heat throughout the body and cooling it through perspiration (sweat). When the body becomes too hot, it loses water through sweat. The evaporation of sweat from the skin cools the body, keeping its temperature within a normal range. If a person becomes dehydrated, they can't produce enough sweat to cool their body. This can cause the body's temperature to reach dangerous levels, leading to heat stroke. FLUAWAEiE