Drink up, Kids

Now that summer is in full swing, hydration becomes a high priority, not least for active children and sporty teens.

Even mild dehydration – a 1% loss in body weight in children (and 2% in adults) – can impair performance, reduce stamina and strength, and increase fatigue.

Though 2% may not seem like a lot, for a person weighing 65kg, that’s 1.3 litres of water lost. For a child weighing 35kg, just 350ml of water lost is enough to dehydrate them.

If the warning signs of dehydration are ignored, youngsters can overheat rapidly and develop more severe symptoms that could result in heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and in extreme cases, death.

Children are