KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - You know it's important to drink plenty of water during these hot summer days, but do you know how much you should be drinking?

Chances are, you're probably not getting enough.

"I think I probably try for 4 glasses of water a day," says Dan Foltz-Gray.

"I usually drink about 3 or 4 of these," says Lexie Barton.

Health specialist Missy Kane says you need to average about 8 ounces of water per hour, per day.

But there are other ways to stay hydrated.

"We forget about the fruit. We need to eat more fruits and vegetables anyway, but like watermelon is 80%, milk is 80% water. So it doesn't have to just be water," says Kane.

While children play in the pool at the AJCC Milton Collins Day Camp, lifeguards make sure they get plenty to drink.

"We watch for people if they start getting tired, or faint and water in the snack bar is free," Barton. But she also has to pay attention to her own body.

"When you get really hot and you feel yourself getting tired, or you're skin gets really dry or you get really, really hot, I just know I need to drink, more water."

Which are short term effects of dehydration. Long term effects can be more dangerous.

"When you quit sweating, you see discoloration in your coloring and also if you start getting a little dizzy and are not speaking clearly, that could be a sign you're really going into the next zone and you need some help."

It's also important to get enough potassium and electrolytes.

Kane says sports drinks, orange juice and bananas will keep those levels up.