Although summer has ended, the Florida heat has not and neither does the potential to suffer from dehydration or heat exhaustion from spending a day at a theme park.
Heat exhaustion is a heat-related illness after being exposed to high temperatures and it is often accompanied by dehydration.
Early signs of dehydration include increased thirst, dry mouth, headache, dizziness, and decreased urine output. These are just some of the early signs.
So how do you stay hydrated while you are spending a day of fun at the amusement parks? Here are 7 tips for staying hydrated in the intense Florida heat.
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Start drinking water ahead of time. Study after study shows that most of us don’t drink enough water. In fact, one study showed that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. That alone makes it more important to start hydrating ahead of time so you don’t start out already dehydrated.
Avoid mid-day. I know it is easy to want to have every moment of fun, especially considering how much you spent on a ticket to the parks. Try to schedule your day so you are not out in the hottest part of the day. We often schedule that time for indoor activities or mealtime.
Bring a backpack. I always have a backpack with me that contains snacks, sunscreen, and at least a couple of water bottles. If I can’t find a water bottle filling station I will refill my water bottles at the water fountain.
Ask for a cup of ice water at any counter service restaurant. They will never tell you no. The last thing they want is for someone to end up with heat stroke or have any medical emergency because they are dehydrated. In fact, many of the quick service restaurants and bars have cups and a jug of ice water available next to the counter. I have even seen places at Disney during extremely hot summer days that have prepared cups of ice water for you to grab and go.
Wear appropriate clothing. My son loves to wear his Fortnite hoodie, even in the Florida heat. It makes me sweat to just look at him in it. This is the perfect example of inappropriate clothing. I get that he wants to be fashionable but I need to make sure he is wearing breathable clothing that is made of fabric and materials that are made for hot weather.
Water Rides. I am not saying drink this water, please don’t. But there is no better way to cool off while still having a ton of fun than a water ride. There are also plenty of splash pad areas and water features for the kids to play in throughout the parks where they could also cool off.
Electrolyte supplement or drink. Drinks like Gatorade may replace electrolytes but they are also full of sugar. When I started running Disney races, I discovered Nuun electrolyte drink tablets. I just drop it in my bottle of water and bam I have restored my electrolytes without all of the sugar. My daughter even likes the watermelon flavored Nuun. There are plenty of other choices out there, but I recommend always having something on hand, just in case.