When it's hot outside and you've been sweating, you get thirsty.
Why? Thirst can be a sign of dehydration (say: dee-hye-dray-
shun). Dehydration means that your body doesn't have enough
water in it to keep it working right. A person gets water by
drinking and eating. You lose water when you sweat, urinate
(pee), have diarrhea, or throw up. You even lose a little water
when you breathe. Our bodies need water to work properly.
Usually, you can make up for the water you lose — like when you
come in from outside and have a long, cool drink of water. If
you don't replace the water your body has lost, you might start
feeling sick. And if you go too long without the water you need,
you can become very ill and might need to go to the hospital.
Why Am I Dehydrated? Many times kids get dehydrated when they're
playing hard and having fun. Have you ever gotten really sweaty
and red-faced when you've been playing? This often happens when
it's hot outside, but it can happen indoors, too, like if you're
practicing basketball