Importance of Staying Hydrated
Staying hydrated during summer festivals is essential to staying safe and having a good time. Although “being thirsty” might not seem like a big deal, it can lead to serious health concerns.
It’s especially risky during summer events when the temperatures soar. Symptoms associated with dehydration include dizziness, muscle cramps, headaches, fatigue, and heatstroke.
Even mild dehydration can be enough to ruin your experience, which is why it’s so important to make staying hydrated a priority while you are out and about at summer events.
What are the best things you can do to stay hydrated at this year’s summer festivals?
Tips for Staying Hydrated
Carry a Reusable Water Bottle
Using a refillable water bottle is one of the simplest and best ways to stay hydrated at summer festivals. Carrying a reusable water bottle with you means you’ll have access to water anytime and anywhere you want it.
Not only does it ensure your safety and health during the festival, but it also allows you to save money and reduce the amount of plastic from buying bottles of water throughout the event.
Although some festivals don’t allow you to carry in bottled water, most will allow you to bring in an empty bottle.
If possible, find a bottle with a clip-on attachment that allows you to hook it onto a backpack or belt loop so you won’t need to carry it all day.
Take Advantage of Free Water Stations
Most summer festivals offer hydration stations. These areas allow people to fill cups or reusable water bottles with clean, safe drinking water. The filling stations are usually free, at least for water.
Event planners know how important it is to keep attendees hydrated, and they don’t want to put people at risk of dehydration-related health emergencies by denying them water or charging them for bottles of water.
However, even if the festival does charge to refill your bottle, it’s worth the price. Staying hydrated by refilling a water bottle with filtered water ensures you can enjoy your time at the festival without worrying about dehydration.
In addition to hydration stations, many events offer shaded or misting areas for cooling off. These are also great for helping you stay comfortable even in hot weather.
Monitor Your Water Intake
Drinking water isn’t enough. You should be monitoring your fluid intake throughout the event to make sure you’re drinking enough water.
Little sips here and there or a single bottle of water throughout the day isn’t enough to keep you hydrated, especially on summer’s hottest days when you’re sweating.
You have several options for monitoring your water consumption. One of the easiest is just tracking how many times you refill your water bottle.
Aim for at least six to eight refills throughout the day, depending on the size of your water bottle. Depending on its size, you can also aim to refill it every hour or two.
There are also mobile apps to track your water and fluid intake. This is great if you set a goal for drinking that is set in ounces or liters of water.
Many apps allow you to set reminders that keep you on track. If you don’t want an app, you can still set an alarm on your phone to remind you to drink water.
Another method for monitoring your water intake is natural. It’s keeping track of the color of your urine. If it’s light or clear, your hydration levels are okay. However, if it darkens in color, it’s time to drink some water.
As simple as it sounds, this is an excellent option because it’s specific to your body and how much water it’s losing. Remember, some people will need to drink more than others throughout the same timeframe.
Monitoring your urine colors shows whether you drink enough for your physiology and body weight.
Finally, you can keep a tally of how much you drink with a pen or pencil or on your phone. Make a mark every time you refill your bottle, and you’ll have a record of how much you’ve consumed throughout the day.
Eat Hydrating Foods
The foods you eat while attending a summer festival can help or hinder your effort to stay hydrated. The more food with high water content you eat, the better. High-water-content foods include fruits and vegetables.
It’s also a good idea to avoid foods that are dehydrating. Dehydrating foods include alcohol, caffeine, and salty foods. All of these are diuretics, which means they cause you to urinate more frequently.
Alcohol also puts you at risk of vomiting if you overdo it, further exacerbating dehydration. It might also cause excess sweating and water loss.
Also, remember that if you eat or drink a diuretic, your urine will be clear or pale yellow, but this does not indicate that you’re meeting your fluid needs. It can mean the opposite.
The best thing to do is avoid salty snacks and alcohol in favor of water and hydrating foods. However, if you indulge in dehydrating food, have an extra bottle or cup of water to offset the diuretic effects.
Dress Appropriately
How you dress can help you stay cool at summer festivals. This means you’ll sweat less and need to rehydrate less.
Choose clothing made from natural, light-colored fabrics. Opting for breathable pieces that absorb moisture is also a good idea.
Consider Adding Electrolytes to Your Water
Finally, one of the best ways to stay hydrated is to add electrolyte supplements to your water. This is also a great way to reduce your slight risk of water toxicity from drinking too much water.
Electrolytes support your body’s natural functions, including muscle and nervous system function. In many cases, electrolytes also improve the taste of water for those who aren’t usually fans.
Mobile stations are great for summer festivals. We offer stations with stainless steel fixtures, skirting, and hot-dipped galvanized frames. If you’d like to learn more or are interested in renting or buying one of our mobile water stations, book a quick call.