With spring finally here, many of you will be spending much more time active outdoors. Whether hiking, running, engaging in any number of sports or doing work around the yard, you’ll be getting some exercise and working up a sweat. And in doing so, you’ll need to replenish your fluids.

This is common sense, and the vast majority of you don’t need to be reminded to remain cognizant of maintaining adequate hydration. Where we sometimes err, however, is in failing to bring enough liquid refreshment with us on our outings or workouts; or, if we’re focused on doing something — mowing the lawn, for example — we might be distracted to the point we don’t realize just how much fluid we’re losing.

But one need not be working out like a madman or under a blistering sun to get dehydrated. Mild dehydration can occur at work or doing other activities that aren’t in any way causing massive fluid loss. Simply failing to drink the appropriate amount of fluids — and children are especially susceptible to this — can cause mild dehydration.

Severe dehydration can cause serious medical emergencies such as heat stroke, but even mild dehydration can have unpleasant effects on the body. Headache, general fatigue and irritability are among the most common symptoms of mild dehydration, and are often overlooked as stemming from lack of fluids.

You can read about one man’s unpleasant experience with dehydration, which caught him unaware, on page 7, at the end of a story about Spencerport Central School District’s Hydration Challenge. The initiative was an attempt to raise awareness about the importance of proper fluid intake, and was well received — more then half of Spencerport staff members participated, and they found ways to make drinking water fun.

And please check out the other stories in this issue. Quest Elementary School in Hilton Central School District gets students’ minds ready for the day with quick exercises every morning, while staff members in Hilton meet new friends and exercise their bodies and minds with after-school yoga. Pittsford Central School District embarked on a huge endeavor during Heart Health Month; and the Brockport and East Rochester school districts have been holding family strengthening workshops, under the premise that healthier family relationships can improve students’ classroom performance.

Be well, everyone.