Dehydration

First aid for dehydration in children in Israel, emphasising oral rehydration with electrolyte solutions, severity assessment including fontanelle check in infants, and urgent medical care for severe cases. Children dehydrate faster than adults due to higher metabolic rate, higher surface-area-to-body-mass ratio, and greater proportion of body water. Apply when: When a child shows signs of dehydration from any cause: insufficient fluid intake, excessive sweating (heat exposure), vomiting, diarrhoea, or fever. Particularly relevant during Israeli summer months (May-October), sharav (hamsin) heat waves, school field trips in desert areas (Negev, Arava, Dead Sea), and during childhood gastroenteritis. Signs include dry mouth, decreased urine output, sunken eyes, thirst, no tears when crying, lethargy, and sunken fontanelle in infants.