High temperatures are forecast to continue across the Northern Rivers as children head back to school.
Children can easily become dehydrated in hot weather, so in these circumstances it is especially important to make sure they are drinking plenty of water.
Northern NSW Local Health District Health Promotion Manager, Jillian Adams, said by the time a child feels thirsty they may already dehydrated, and this can have a big impact on their school day.
“Signs that a child is dehydrated include tiredness, headaches, dizziness, nausea and increased anxiety and tension. In the classroom the child will struggle with a shorter attention span, lack of concentration and alertness, and low mood.
“This can be avoided if children stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. The school bubblers are always a good source of fresh, cool water,” Jillian said.
Some tips to avoid dehydration:
- always include a water bottle in the school bag (chilled and insulated or frozen overnight),
- encourage children to have a big drink of water before school and when they come home,
- teachers can make sure children drink water before, during and after playing games and sport.
Drinking plenty of water is very important for good health as being properly hydrated helps your body function at its best.
An easy way for children to check if they are drinking enough water is by looking at the colour of their wee.
Clear wee is good, but dark yellow or brown urine means they need to drink more water.