High numbers of people with dehydration attending Emergency Departments

Friday, 17 July 2026 11:00

By Chris Collman

The hot weather in the South West is continuing to have an impact on the number of people presenting at the Royal Devon Emergency Departments with heat related conditions.

Dr Anthony Hemsley, Medical Director and Consultant Geriatrician said: ‘We’re seeing a high number of people coming into our Emergency Departments with advanced dehydration, particularly those with long-term heart and breathing illnesses, and older people.

For most people, dehydration is preventable. You can avoid having to see a doctor or go to ED by staying cool and maintaining your hydration at home.”

Being dehydrated means the amount of water in your body is too low. Early signs can include:

Feeling thirsty and tired
Having dark yellow, strong-smelling urine
Experiencing light-headedness or headaches
Having a dry mouth, lips and tongue.

In serious cases people can become very ill, leading to kidney damage.

There are lots of ways you can stay cool and hydrated at home:

Drink fluids throughout the day and check the colour of your urine

Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink, have six to eight cups throughout the day. On hot days, or if you are exercising, you should drink more to make up for the extra fluids lost through sweat.

If your urine is pale yellow, you’re most likely to be adequately hydrated, if it is dark yellow, you may be dehydrated and should drink more.

Keep your home and yourself cool

Keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun.

Help keep yourself cool by trying to avoid direct sunlight and removing unnecessary clothing and wearing light-coloured clothes.

Seek help early

If you have a baby or an older or vulnerable family member showing signs of dehydration, call 111.

If you think you might be dehydrated and you’re not getting better after 24 hours, call 111.

If you’re under the care of a specialist nurse and think you might be dehydrated, contact your nurse for advice, or call 111.

Dr Hemsley said: “By staying on top of your hydration at home and seeking advice and support through 111 or a pharmacist if needed, you can avoid a trip to the hospital.”

Find out more about recognising, managing and preventing dehydration on the NHS website.

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