Drinking And Driving Is A Good Thing When What You Are Drinking Is Water
Posted on: 7 June 2016
If you have been in an accident with a driver that appeared to under the influence of alcohol, but further testing indicated that they were not, they may be dehydrated. Unfortunately, what many people do not realize is dehydration can have a significant impact on their mental clarity. How much of an impact? You may be surprised to know. Understanding this risk, as well as the amount of fluids a person needs to consume to keep from being dehydrated, may help you and your attorney prove that the other driver really was at fault.
What Is The Risk Of Not Drinking Water?
Most people know the dangers of drinking and driving, but did you know that there may be an even larger danger that could be affecting even a larger number of the population? It's not drinking enough before they drive - enough water, that is.
Being dehydrated can cause mental impairment. Studies have shown that being dehydrated can have almost the same impact on drivers as consuming enough alcohol to register at .08 blood alcohol content level. This is the level at which drivers are deemed to be legally drunk.
Dehydrated drivers have some of the same problems that intoxicated drivers do. Some of these problems include:
- Reduced concentration
- Increased fatigue
- Impaired memory recall
- Slowed reaction times and more
Individually, all of these mistakes can increase their risk of causing an accident, and when they are combined they can create a substantial risk. The fortunate thing is that dehydration is easy to avoid.
How Much Water Does A Person Really Need To Stay Hydrated?
You have probably heard the 8 x 8 rule. This rule states that you need 8 - 8 ounce glasses of water or 64 oz. of water per day to stay hydrated. However, this may not be true for everyone. The Institute of Medicine recommends that men drink an average of thirteen glasses of water each day, while women consume an average of nine. This still may not be enough depending on a person's body size and activity level.
What Causes A Person To Become Dehydrated?
While a person probably does not need any less water than what is suggested, they may require significantly more if any of the following apply to them:
- Are in a hot or humid environment
- Participate in a lot of exercising
- Have various illnesses or health conditions
- Take certain medications and more
In addition to these, there are various factors that may also be leading to their dehydration. Some of these include:
Beverages they drink - The goal to staying hydrated should be to put as much fluid into your body as you move out of your body, but all beverages are not created equal. This is because caffeinated or sugary drinks may not help a person to become or stay hydrated. This is because these beverages create an acidic environment, which can cause a person's kidneys to work harder to process them.
Alcohol can also have a dehydrating effect on a person. Although it is made up of fluid, it is a natural diuretic that causes cells to shrink, which in turn pulls out the fluids. This is one of the main reasons that a person runs back and forth to the bathroom once they start drinking.
Foods a person eats - Although a high protein based diet may be a person's diet of choice, it may also lead them to being dehydrated. This is because a person's body will require more water to flush out the higher levels of nitrogen that are found in high protein foods. Other foods that may cause dehydration include those that are high in sodium, such as cured meats, processed foods, soy sauce, and bouillon cubes, to just name a few.
If you have been involved in an accident due to the erratic driving of another driver, dehydration may be an avenue your attorney may want to explore. While this may be harder for your attorney to prove, they really may need to be asking if the other driver has had enough to drink. If you have not yet retained an attorney, consider one like Charles Aaron PLC.
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