NHS Wyre Forest Clinical Commissioning Group is emphasising the importance of keeping hydrated to avoid dehydration and unnecessary hospital admissions during the warm weather.

To stay healthy, it’s important to replace the fluid you lose when you breathe, sweat or urinate. Generally, people need between 1.5 and 2.5 litres of fluid daily, which is equivalent to about six to eight glasses. In hot weather, this intake needs to be increased to compensate for the increase of fluid leaving the body.

Anyone can become dehydrated, but certain groups are more at risk, these include babies and infants, older people and people with long-term health condition.

Jo Galloway, chief nursing officer for NHS Wyre Forest CCG, said: “Staying hydrated is crucial especially in high temperatures.

“There are plenty of things people can do to stay hydrated, for example, drinking water regularly throughout the day, eating more fresh fruit and vegetables and remembering to drink more when they exercise or when the weather is particularly hot.”

When our bodies don’t have enough water, we are said to be dehydrated.

Common signs of dehydration include feeling thirsty and lightheaded, tiredness and having a dry mouth.

For more information on how to keep hydrated and the effects of dehydration, visit wyreforestccg.nhs.uk.