VIDEO: As South Texas temperatures climb into levels more commonly seen later in the summer, Corpus Christi firefighters are turning to technology to help monitor hydration and reduce the risk of heat-related illness.
The Corpus Christi Fire Department is using hydration monitors that can provide a reading in about 30 seconds, helping firefighters assess whether they are adequately hydrated before beginning their shifts.
“On a daily basis in the mornings our crews will power this on. They’ll put their thumb on here and for about 30 seconds it’ll end up reading your hydration levels,” Brunemeier said. “It’ll score you between 0 and 100. Typically 85 and up is going to be well hydrated, so that’s our goal.”
The readings help firefighters determine where they stand before spending extended periods of time in the heat and can serve as an early indicator that additional fluids may be needed.
While hydration monitoring can be a valuable tool in helping prevent heat-related illnesses, they stress that the most important steps for staying safe remain drinking plenty of fluids and taking breaks in cool or air-conditioned spaces whenever possible.
KIII-TV ABC 3 Corpus Christi