Final answer:
A dehydrated patient is typically given an isotonic saline solution intravenously to safely restore fluid balance without causing damage to red blood cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a dehydrated human patient requires intravenous fluids, the standard solution given is usually a saline solution at a concentration that is isotonic with respect to body fluids. This isotonic saline typically contains 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl), which closely matches the osmolarity of the body's extracellular fluid at approximately 300 mOsm. Using an isotonic solution is crucial because it prevents the red blood cells from shrinking (crenation) or bursting, which can occur when exposed to hypertonic or hypotonic solutions, respectively.