by Fern Shaw | Dec 13, 2012 | Health and Hydration
Encourage your children to eat water-rich foods
At home and in the lunchbox, encourage your child to eat water-rich foods like grapes, watermelon, cucumbers, carrots, and tomatoes.
Float slices of fruit (such as lemons or limes) in a jug of water
Or be creative with strawberries, clementine segments and any other colourful fruit.
Let your children drink what they want – within reason
Water is always going to be the healthiest drink for both children and adults, but if plain water makes them turn their noses up, give your children a little more freedom. Milk, natural juice, and flavoured water all work. However, to help them avoid a caffeine or sugar addiction early in life; never let them try fizzy drinks (or worse, take one to school). Hydrated children are happy children.
Give your child a straw.
It may sound strange, but we actually drink more when we’re drinking through a straw. With a straw, kids will be encouraged to drink more fluids, and they may enjoy the fun factor of having a straw in their favourite colour.
Use ice cube trays that make fun shapes and use those ice cubes in your child’s water
Nothing quite like the fascination of watching an ice cube shape melt while drinking your water and should the ice cube drop or fall, no mess apart from a little puddle!
Take your child to pick out a new, special cup
Young children are big on ‘ownership’, especially when there are siblings, so once they have their own individual drinking cup, this will encourage them to use their cup for drinking from.
by Fern Shaw | May 27, 2012
Are you dehydrated?
A massive 96% of UK office workers are reported to be dehydrated. A mere 2% drop in hydration can lead to a 20% drop in concentration.
Staying hydrated is crucial for maintaining your physical and mental well being. A simple way of determining your hydration status is by looking at the colour of your urine and comparing it with the colour chart on the left.
When you are drinking enough water your body is in balance and your urine will be a pale straw yellow colour (hydrated).
When you have not drank enough water your kidneys try to save as much water as they can and cause your urine to be darker in colour (Dehydrated).
Below are just some of the effects of dehydration:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Painful urination
Thankfully, regaining hydration is simple. One or two cups of water will quickly give the body the water it needs and help you maintain a healthy and active life.
Why not download our PDF and enable yourself to put a chart up in your toilets to help your staff stay hydrated – Download the pdf here.
by Fern Shaw | Jun 30, 2025 | water cooler, Water Coolers
When the temperature climbs, the reminders to ‘drink more water’ seem to come from everywhere – and for good reason. Hydration is key to keeping our bodies running smoothly. But there’s more to it than just avoiding dehydration.
Here’s why staying sensibly hydrated matters – and what many people may not realise.
Hydration Helps More Than Just Thirst
We know dehydration can cause fatigue, headaches, dizziness and more. But here are a few lesser-known reasons to stay on top of your water intake:
- Joint protection: Water keeps the cartilage in your joints cushioned and functioning properly. Less water = more friction = more aches.
- Digestive support: Dehydration can slow digestion, leading to bloating and constipation.
- Body temperature regulation: Hydration helps your body cool itself – especially important during heatwaves or exercise.
But Can You Drink Too Much Water?
You can and it’s more common than people think, especially in the summer when we’re hyper-aware of the heat. Overhydration can happen when you drink excessive water without replenishing vital electrolytes like sodium and potassium.
These minerals help your body:
- Hold onto the water it needs.
- Maintain the right balance between fluids inside and outside your cells.
Without them, your body may flush too much sodium, which can lead to symptoms like nausea, confusion and headaches.
So, What’s Sensible Hydration?
- Sip steadily throughout the day, not all at once.
- Eat electrolyte-rich foods like bananas, avocados, potatoes, leafy greens and melon.
- If you sweat a lot (exercise, outdoor work, or naturally heavy perspiration), consider electrolyte supplements or drinks that contain electrolytes to help maintain fluid balance.
- Don’t force litres of water if you’re not thirsty – your body knows what it needs.
Hydration is vital, but like most things, it’s about balance, not extremes. So, when it gets hot, keep your cool, top up your water bottle as needed, be kind and remind your workmates to visit the water cooler station and drink up … but drink smart.
sources overhydration: from an article at UCLA Health
by Fern Shaw | Jun 25, 2025 | water cooler, Water Coolers
When the sun’s out and temperatures soar, it’s easy to remember the usual advice: drink more water. But beyond the typical reminders about avoiding heatstroke or staying energised, there are a few lesser-known -but just as important – reasons to stay properly hydrated in hot weather.
For starters, hydration plays a surprisingly big role in mood and cognitive function. Even mild dehydration can increase feelings of irritability, brain fog, and fatigue – not ideal when you’re trying to focus at work or get through a busy day. And if you’re outdoors, it’s even more crucial; the body must work harder to keep cool, which means it’s losing fluids faster than usual.
Another overlooked factor? Skin health. In the heat, we sweat more and if we’re not replenishing that loss, skin can become dry and more prone to breakouts or sensitivity. Water helps maintain the skin’s elasticity and flush out toxins, giving it a better chance to stay balanced even in hot, sweaty conditions.
Then there’s the knock-on effect on digestion. Heat can slow down your appetite, but proper hydration supports healthy digestive function – especially when our eating habits shift with the weather. From preventing bloating to helping nutrients absorb properly, water plays a vital – yet often overlooked – role in keeping everything running smoothly.
All of this points to the value of having a water cooler nearby – whether it’s in the office, a shared building space or even placing a free standing water fountain outdoors. A visible, easy-access water dispenser subtly encourages everyone to drink more, just by being there. It’s a small but smart investment that keeps hydration front of mind and bodies functioning at their best.
So, while drinking more water in hot weather might sound obvious, the reasons go deeper than just avoiding dehydration. Simply installing a water cooler can help make the difference – from clearer thinking and better skin to keeping our digestive system healthy and our mood in check.
by Fern Shaw | Jun 23, 2025 | mains fed water cooler, water cooler, Water Coolers
When the forecast hints at a heatwave, most people think about sunscreen, lighter clothes, or perhaps rearranging plans to avoid the midday sun. But what if you can’t reschedule? What if it’s a school day, or you must be at work in the office, or open the warehouse? Often, the most crucial necessity is overlooked: making sure there’s enough drinking water to go around – and not just assuming someone else will sort it.
Being proactive about water supply isn’t just good common sense; it can make a real difference to comfort, wellbeing and productivity. During hot spells, people naturally drink more – which means water stocks run out faster than usual. If you’re relying on replenishing your water for your bottled water cooler, it’s surprisingly easy to run low right when demand peaks. That can lead to unnecessary stress, discomfort and a scramble to restock when your supplier may already be running short or your scheduled water delivery is weeks away.
Planning ahead helps avoid that. Whether it’s ensuring a delivery of bottled water is booked early, topping up your reusable bottles, or checking that your water dispenser is full and working, small steps make a big difference.
And it’s not just about avoiding thirst. In hotter weather, staying hydrated helps regulate body temperature, maintain energy levels and support concentration – especially in workplaces or shared spaces. If water isn’t easily available, people may end up drinking less than they should, which can lead to light-headedness, fatigue, or even headaches, which are oft symptoms of dehydration.
Whether you’re the smallest two-person operation, a work from homer, a large team, or managing an entire organisation, thinking ahead means making sure everyone has what they need – not just the early birds who get to the water cooler station first. A bit of simple planning also shows care and consideration, whether it’s at home, at an event, or in the office.
So next time the temperature starts to climb, don’t wait for the rush. Make water part of your warm weather prep – and avoid the all-too-common ‘we’ve run out’ moment. A bit of foresight goes a long way when the heat is on.
Of course, if you already have mainsfed water coolers installed, you’re sorted. If you aren’t yet, not to worry, speak to us at AquAid. The great thing is, if a plumbed-in cooler doesn’t match your needs, we offer a wide range of high-quality water dispensers – including chilled, cold only and hot & cold bottle-fed water coolers, water fountains and Instant Taps.
