Dehydrate, hydrate, repeat

In the 3 December 2009, release of the meliorist, the student newspaper, an article titled “Dehydrate, hydrate, repeat,” raises the issue of hydration. The author writes that “We live in an era where almost everything seems dangerous in some way. “ The author mentions microwaves, packaging, and H1N1. The author asks, “What else can we be scared of? It seems like we, as a society, can’t get much worse. However, we still haven’t tackled the issue of dehydration.” The article continues to talk about how the body is 50% to 75% water, that exercise leads to an increase in dehydration, and that your urine should be copious and clear. All valid points. But the author concludes, “Dehydration isn’t a big issue yet, but who knows at the rate society is going. Did you ever think you’d see hand sanitizer in the library? Just wait until proper hydration becomes a big deal. It’s coming.”

This article was originally published in The Brunswickan. Things might be a little different in New Brunswick, but last I checked right next to that hand sanitizer I often find a drinking fountain. That drinking fountain, I’m assuming, is not as easy to install as a hand sanitizer dispenser and was probably installed while the building was erected. Now maybe this is a piece of satire. Satire is sometimes lost on me. But if it is not satire, the author missed his mark. Hydration has been an issue all along. I can remember drinking fountains in my schools, in parks, in malls, and other public buildings for as long as I can remember.

I don’t know how to explain how this author is able to overlook something as common as a dirking fountain. Maybe that drinking fountains are so common is the reason why they are overlooked. Maybe this author has never worked out and had to run to the drinking fountain for water. Maybe this author has never worked with children and never had to take them for a water break, which usually involves finding the nearest drinking fountain. Maybe the media has not jumped on hydration as they have H1N1. If the media portrays hydration as it has H1N1, then yes maybe, as the author says, hydration will become a “big deal.”

Check out this link to rehydrate.org to see how water is a “big deal.” For example, “Some 6,000 children die every day from diseases associated with lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene – equivalent to 20 jumbo jets crashing every day.” cite Whereas according to the World Health Organization, “As of 15 November 2009, worldwide more than 206 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over 6770 deaths.” That’s the total deaths since the outbreak. Almost the same number of children die from dehydration in a day than the total number of people who have died from H1N1.

I just have to ask where our priorities lie. Should we spend millions on hand sanitizer or millions on ensuring children have access to clean water?