3 Emergency Room Tips From Dr. Jessica Li

While treating a patient in the emergency room Dr Jessica Li passed out. She was scared, embarrassed, and confused as to what could have happened. She thought back and realized that aside from being exhausted, all of her fluid intake that day had been COFFEE ☕️

"I never drank coffee before residency and that day I had consumed THREE cups of coffee☕️☕️☕️ and only HALF a glass of water 🧊", Dr Li remembers.

As she laid in a stretcher with the emergency department team monitoring her, she realized a few things... 💭

Doctor Li's Top 3 Tips To Stay Hydrated in the ER:

1. Self care is important so you can be there for others

"I need to take care of myself, not only for me, but also for my patients. I can’t imagine being a patient and watching my doctor collapse in front of me. 😰 Furthermore, I couldn’t care for my patient anymore since I became a patient myself 🤦🏻‍♀️."

2. Emergency rooms are cold which can lead to dehydration for yourself and your patients

"It really gets COLD in the emergency room! Especially if you’re getting IV fluids 💉 If you’re doing a consult in the ED, just give your patients a few extra blankets on the side — even if they don’t ask for it 🛌."

3. It is HOT under all the PPE

"It's hot and it’s so hard to BREATHE under two masks 😷 I often don’t even realize how much I’m sweating until my loupes and face shield are all fogged up 💦."

4. Drink water with electrolytes

"At the recommendation of my friend, @dr.lanah, I tried Ultima Replenisher electrolyte powder and it has been a game changer 🔥. I keep a few to-go packets with me at all times and they help me stay hydrated and make my water taste amazing 🌈!"

🅾️ Sugar

🅾️ Calories

🅾️ GMO

✅ Vegan

✅ Gluten-Free

✅ Paleo

About Author: Dr Jessica Li, DDS is an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Resident in New York.