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Don’t Dehydrate, Drink Up!

New Jersey American Water Offers Tips to Stay Hydrated This Summer

CAMDEN, N.J. – JUNE 29, 2021 – Summer is officially here and with temperatures reaching into the mid-90’s this week, it can be difficult to remain properly hydrated. New Jersey American Water provides tips for customers to stay healthy and avoid becoming dangerously dehydrated in extreme heat.

“Safety is one of our top priorities at New Jersey American Water, and dehydration is a serious safety concern for employees and customers alike in this summer heat,” said Mark McDonough, president, New Jersey American Water. “Whether you’re spending time indoors with air conditioning or enjoying the summer sun, most people will need to drink elevated levels of water during the warmer months to remain properly hydrated. We hope these tips will help our customers develop good hydration habits and avoid the dangers of dehydration this season.”

Signs of mild dehydration include dry mouth or eyes, headache, fatigue, and muscle cramps. These symptoms may be alleviated by spending some time in a cool or shaded area and drinking water. Severe dehydration can cause rapid heartbeat, extreme dizziness, and nausea and may require more serious medical attention.

New Jersey American Water offers its top five tips to help avoid reaching the point of dehydration this summer:

  • Don’t let yourself get thirsty. Drink before you feel thirsty. Thirst is a sign that you may already be at least slightly dehydrated.
  • Never go to bed dehydrated. Your body loses water while you sleep, so try to drink about 8 ounces of water before you go to bed and another 8 ounces when you wake up.
  • It’s not just for beating the heat.Keep up good hydration habits even when you aren’t outdoors in the heat. When the AC is blasting, you may feel less inclined to drink water, but that would be a mistake. Proper hydration is always important.
  • Keep it with you at all times. Having a physical reminder, in the form of a drink cup or bottle, will help keep you drinking all day.
  • Invest in a refillable water bottle. Most single-use plastic bottles are never recycled and will take around 1,000 years to biodegrade. Using a refillable water bottle is better for the environment, and much more affordable than buying plastic bottled water.

 

Also, while splashing in the water outdoors can help you stay cool, New Jersey American Water wants to remind customers that fire hydrants are not to be used for recreational purposes. Hydrants are critical for fire protection and should never be used for any other purpose.

To learn more about New Jersey American Water’s commitment to water education and quality service, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com.

New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.8 million people. For more information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com and follow New Jersey American Water on Twitter and Facebook.


Media Contacts

Erin Banes

Specialist, External Affairs

NA

erin.banes@amwater.com