Dehydration

Dehydration, in the context of human health and kink, refers to a condition resulting from the excessive loss of body fluids, surpassing the amount of fluids taken in. This imbalance disrupts the normal levels of salts and sugars present in the blood, which can interfere with the way the body functions.

Dehydration during scenes can occur due to various reasons, including excessive sweating, or insufficient intake of fluids. The severity of dehydration can range from mild, requiring simple measures like increased fluid intake, to severe, which may necessitate medical attention and intravenous hydration. Symptoms of dehydration include thirst, reduced urination, dark-colored urine, dry skin, fatigue, dizziness, and confusion.

While severe dehydration will cause overt symptoms necessitating the end of a scene, it is not life-threatening in short term. Overhydration, on the other hand, is: in the history of organized sports, there is not a single well-documented fatality caused purely by dehydration, but hundreds caused by overhydration.

Dehydration is often confused with heat exhaustion due to them usually happening together in play. Rehydration will not generally solve overheating issues, nor does cooling down solve dehydration.

Mitigation

With all kink activities it is important to include dehydration as a factors, especially when using gear such as full body fursuits.

Hydrate before, during and after all strenuous activities.

Alcohol:

Alcohol can increase your risk of heat illness because it is a diuretic. Diuretics lead to dehydration.

Medications:

Certain medications, like diuretics, can lead to an increase in urination. If a worker is not keeping up with their water intake, they are at risk of dehydration.

Caffeine:

In general, a normal amount of caffeine will not influence your overall hydration. When your heart is strained from hot temperatures and workload, high caffeine levels can add additional strain on your heart. Keep this in mind: some energy drinks contain more caffeine than coffee.

Electrolytes:

For sweating that lasts several hours, sports drinks can help replace electrolytes that participants lose. Salt tablets are not recommended unless instructed by their doctor. Most people can restore electrolytes through regular meals. Additionally, consuming too much salt may lead to nausea and vomiting which can worsen dehydration.

Just as important as hydrating, be mind full not to over hydrate: least one cup (8 ounces) of water every 15-20 minutes while participating in extraneous activities, not just when they are thirsty. Do not drink more than 48 oz (1½ quarts) per hour! Drinking too much water or other fluids (sports drinks, energy drinks, etc.) can cause a medical emergency because the concentration of salt in the blood becomes too low.

https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA4372.pdf