8.2b Ensure that drinks are refreshed on a regular basis

To remain hydrated, an individual must drink regularly throughout the day. As mentioned in a previous section, everyone should have around 1.5-2 litres of fluids a day to remain hydrated. This means that drinks must be refreshed regularly to ensure an individual stays hydrated.

When caring for an individual, you should always take note of whether an individual’s drink needs to be refreshed or not. If it is empty or almost empty, you should politely ask for the individual’s cup and refill it with fluids. If you think that an individual is not drinking enough, you should encourage them to drink more. By doing this you are ensuring the individual gets enough fluids and stays hydrated.