Drinking water at regular intervals helps your body to remain cool by decreasing sweating. Thirst is not a reliable guide for your need for water. A person who uses thirst as a guide will drink only about two-thirds of the daily requirement. No matter how much information people receive on how to avoid becoming overheated, some heat casualties still occur. These are caused mainly by loss of salt due to excessive sweating.
Symptoms are moderate to severe muscle cramps in legs, arms or abdomen.
These symptoms may start as mild muscular discomfort. This is the time when the person should stop all activity, get in the shade, and drink water. If the person fails to recognize the early symptoms and continues with physical activity, he will have severe muscle cramps and pain. This is caused by a large loss of water and salt. Symptoms are headache, mental confusion, irritability, excessive sweating, weakness, dizziness, cramps and pale, moist, cold skin.