The Importance of Hydrating While Swimming
Hydration is Key!
At KidsCanSwim water is our job, our life and our passion. Like many of our swimmers, our awesome Aquatic Educators stay in the water for hours on end. If they aren’t careful, dehydration can be a big problem.
In water, almost everything we do is exercise. Just walking from one end of the pool to the other requires a lot more effort than walking the same distance on land and swimming laps uses every single major muscle group in the human body! So it should come as no surprise that swimming lessons work up quite a sweat. Despite being surrounded by water, many of us still forget to hydrate. This can cause decreased energy output, headaches and dizziness.
How can we prevent this?
It’s simple!
- Drink water, juice or sports drinks: Coconut Water is a tasty treat that comes jam packed with Sodium, Potassium and Vitamin C – perfect after a fun lesson at Kids Can Swim!
- Watermelon and other fruits are perfect for rehydrating your kiddo thanks to their high percentage of vitamins!
- Set a timer on your phone to remind you and your kids to take a drink, no matter what activity you’re doing!
- Always bring a reusable water bottle in your backpack, purse or bag!
With hot summer days upon us, it’s even more important to keep an eye on dehydration! As kids play non-stop in the sun, make sure they are getting the electrolytes, vitamins or minerals they need. Remeber, until we can absorb water through our skin, even when you’re swimming and your whole body is wet – you still need to hydrate!
