Effects of dehydration on Flight Crew

Research conducted over the years has come up with the following statistics. As flight crew you must be aware the un-replaced water loses equals to 2% of your body weight and this will impact your body’s ability to regulate heat. At 3% loss there is a decrease in muscle cell contraction times. When fluid loses is equal to 4% body weight there is 5 to 10 percent drop in performance which can last up to 4 hours.

So what are the symptoms? Symptoms of dehydration go beyond thirst. In an affect to respond to the brains need for fluid the kidneys reabsorb water through the urine creating fluid retention and frequent urges to visit the bathroom. Dry skin is also a good in indicator of dehydration as skin gets most of its moisture sub-dermaloy. The brain is 75% water and when it needs to replace loss of fluid it manifest specific symptoms such as headaches, light headiness and fatigue. Dehydration certainly contributes to fuzzy thinking and poor decision making and muscle fatigue. Long term affects lead to dry hair, brittle nails, constipation and possibly sinus infection.

How do we avoid dehydration in the flight deck? You will need to attach yourself to a water bottle and drink from it regularly. This will help you stay ahead of the game. Keeping you hydrated before the thirst mechanism sets in. It’s strongly recommended that flight crew stay away from coffee, soda and teas otherwise called diuretics. In addition not to over exercise before a flight, this can lead to large amounts of body fluid loss that is difficult to replace quickly.

You must also assimilate to weather changes i.e. hot or cold. Be aware of personal effects such as fever, diarrhea and also aging which can contribute to dehydration. But perhaps the most important factor in preventing dehydration is continually being aware of your physiological and environmental condition.

It is a good plan for a problem that can easily avoided all with just a GULP OF WATER