How to Stay Hydrated This Summer

Staying hydrated is one of the most vital, yet simple things we can do for ourselves to stay safe & healthy while out enjoying the river. Our bodies depend on water to survive, so we must do everything we can to stay hydrated and keep ourselves safe.

During these summer months, it gets very hot here in the Tri-cities. While we are lucky to have access to not just one, but three rivers here in the Mid-Columbia, we can’t forget that we still need to be drinking water throughout each day to help maintain proper body temperature and keep ourselves going so that we can focus on the task at hand: having endless summer fun!

Everyone is different, but there are guidelines for water consumption on a daily basis. The general rule is to drink half of your body weight in ounces. So, if you weighed 150 lbs, you should drink approximately 75 oz. of water each day. This is a good baseline to start with, to keep yourself healthy and ready to take on a day out paddling!

It can be easy to forget to hydrate! It just happens. Luckily, there are ways that we can all help ourselves, and each other, to remember our H20. Here’s a few!

• Always have a water bottle with you. To stay eco-friendly & save money, use a re-usable one. 
• Sometimes thirst is confused with hunger. If you feel hungry, have a drink of water and that just might do the trick!
• Don’t wait until you feel thirsty. If you do, you are already dehydrated & your body has already lost 1% of its total water. Make it a point to drink water every time you think about it.
• If it is still proving hard to remember, drink on a schedule. At breakfast, lunch, dinner, and before you go to bed. You can also set reminders to drink at the start of each hour, or whatever works best for you.
• Always drink before, during, and after a workout (or paddle!)
• You can also find water in fruits and veggies, so bring some along for a tasty way to stay hydrated!

Get out and enjoy the sunshine, just don’t forget your water bottle!