Letter from the Prez

We are officially into the full swing of summer and we've had some typically hot and humid Michigan weather. I'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone when you're at the beach, the pool, a weekend barbecue or outside doing yard work, to be safe and protect yourself from dehydration. It may come as a surprise that millions of people worldwide – many of them babies and older adults – die of dehydration each year.

What you may not realize is that adults lose over 10 cups of water a day just from doing everyday tasks. Combine that with increased sweating, and it could be dangerous. If you lose more water than what you take in, dehydration can occur. In addition to losing water, you also lose electrolytes that maintain the balance of fluids in your body.

According to www.rehydrate.org, the common symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration are:
• Excessive thirst;
• Sleepiness or tiredness;
• Dry mouth;
• Few or no tears when crying;
• Muscle weakness or cramping
• Headache;
• Dizziness or lightheadedness.

In hot or humid weather, it's essential to drink additional water to lower your body's temperature and to replace what you lose through sweating. So with that in mind, take time to enjoy the weather – as you know summer flies by. Take care of yourself, your loved ones and have a great summer!

Sincerely,
A.J. Filippis