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Category: Training

Winter water & the dangers of dehydration

Posted on 21st November 2022 by Phillipa ClowPosted in Audits, Hydration, News, Press Release, Training, UncategorisedLeave a Comment on Winter water & the dangers of dehydration

We need to drink more water in summer than winter? Right?

Wrong. In fact, the danger of dehydration in winter can be as great, if not greater, than in summer. During those balmy summer months, we tend to ensure we have our water bottles to hand and pay frequent visits to the water dispenser. In winter it’s easy to forget just how dehydrated we might become.

Our General Manager, Phillipa Atkinson-Clow says: “It’s not just during exercise, such as winter sports, that maintaining fluid levels is an issue. Wearing heavy clothes and sitting in over-heated rooms, in a heated train, bus or car, can imperceptibly cause dehydration. The temptation is to drink more warm liquids and that often means caffeinated beverages like coffee or tea that can have a diuretic effect.”

Studies on survival in Arctic temperatures have shown that participants didn’t report thirst until they came indoors and warmed up. Whilst they were in fact dehydrated from the cold, their bodies didn’t tell them as cold stress breaks the thirst mechanism. Most of us aren’t in the Arctic, but when you are in cold temperatures, it is important to remember that even if you don’t feel thirsty you still need to ensure that you keep up your fluid levels.

“Any fluid hydrates you,” says Phillipa, “but if you are trying to cut calories and reduce caffeine, the best choice is water. Not all water is equal. Water dispensers deliver great-tasting, convenient water and if it is a WHA-safe cooler – that is, a machine supplied by an accredited member of WHA, you can be assured the water is safe and hygienic. Of course, using a dispenser is also more sustainable than buying single use plastic bottles of water.”

In cold weather, we lose fluids through respiratory water loss. When you can see your own breath, that is lost water vapour and the more intense the exercise, the more vapour you lose when you breathe. Sweat evaporates more quickly in cold air. We often don’t even notice that we are sweating in cold, dry weather, because it tends to evaporate quickly, and this is another factor that can contribute to a reduced thirst response. Wearing extra clothing helps conserve heat but the added weight is estimated to make the body work between 10% and 40% harder which causes water loss through perspiration.

The answer is simple. Drink up.

To quickly tell if you are dehydrated, whether in winter or summer, just check the colour of your urine. It should be pale lemon in colour. If it’s dark, the chances are you are dehydrated so head to the water dispenser and after just a couple of glasses of water, your body should start to perk up. Being well hydrated can help improve your body and your mind: it will improve concentration levels, help you achieve optimum physical performance; reduce headaches; plump your skin; and can help to avoid more serious health issues such as the formation of kidney stones.

So your winter wonder product could be the simplest of them all; water. The WHA audits and trains its members to provide the best possible safe, sustainable water dispense solutions. Member companies offer both workplace and residential machines. To find a suitable water dispenser for you or your organisation, visit the Find a WHA Member service.

WHA buoyant mood at 2022 AGM

Posted on 26th September 2022 by Phillipa ClowPosted in Charity, Events, News, Press Release, Sustainability, TrainingLeave a Comment on WHA buoyant mood at 2022 AGM

Photo:  Right: Jon Wicks, BWT UK, WHA Chairman and Left: Mark Cross, Waterlogic, WHA Deputy Chairman

 

There was a strong attendance at our  first in-person Annual General Meeting of the Water Dispenser & Hydration Association (the WHA) since the body’s formation in January 2020. Held on 22 September 2022, a day before the Government’s mini budget, we heard from the WHA chairman, Jon Wicks of BWT UK, who said that the industry had bounced back strongly to now stand at £183.8 million in value.

Jon Wicks said: “We are experiencing an eventful year with the pressures of strikes and labour shortages which face all businesses, inflation and energy costs surging, a backdrop of war in Ukraine and hybrid working even as more people have returned to employment.” He added that, after a strong summer for the sector, economic challenges are significant. “We need to brace ourselves for uncertainty ahead,” he said. “The WHA’s vision and our legacy is that we are THE authority on water dispensing and hydration products in both the commercial and domestic environments. We are expanding the portfolio of products we represent which now include integrated tap systems, hospitality and high-volume dispensers, bottle filling stations and boxed water dispensers. As a result, we are expanding our Code of practice and updating our standards to encompass these developments.”

Phillipa Atkinson-Clow, general manager of the WHA together with Matt Stimpson of Thirsty Work, jointly delivered a presentation which examined how the WHA can benefit members. Phillipa Atkinson-Clow said: “The role of the WHA is threefold. To set standards that meet and often excel regulations. To provide high quality industry specific training to help meet those standards. And to carry out annual audits so that you know you are meeting those standards, and so does everybody else. This means that being a member of the WHA really has meaning.  It isn’t just a badge bought off the shelf – you’ve had to work hard to attain and maintain those standards – and so we aim to set you apart from everyone else. These are the foundations of your membership.”

Matt Stimpson added: “We believe that the WHA and its training and audits can help motivate your people at a time when staff attraction and retention is crucial. We know that people feel valued when sent on a [training] course, when their company selects them and makes the training something to be valued.  They learn and return feeling motivated and wanting to use their new knowledge in their jobs. This is just one of the ways in which the WHA benefits members.”

He also spoke of the ways that audits can be used as an opportunity to upskill employees, helping them learn from more senior people.

Other speakers at the event were WHA Deputy Chair, Mark Cross, speaking about ‘Sustainable Hydration’; Darren Wilson, Chair of the Technical Committee, delivering a technical training and audit update; and Steve Charles of Quest talking about expanding business knowledge. In addition, Nigel Elwick, the Chair of the WHA’s Marketing & Communications Committee, chaired an open discussion on industry issues.

The occasion provided an opportunity to promote the industry’s CSR programme by supporting WHA’s chosen charity, Just a Drop. The event had raised nearly £2000 to be put towards the next African borehole which will deliver clean, safe water to yet another remote community in Zambia. Donations came from WHA member delegates and from companies, all of which are members, donating in exchange for an exhibition stand at the event. They were AA First, Abbeychart, Blupura, Crystal Mountain, European Watercare and Partners &.

Eden Springs helping their employees physical & mental health

Posted on 6th May 20218th April 2022 by Posted in Case Studies, Events, Sustainability, TrainingLeave a Comment on Eden Springs helping their employees physical & mental health

WHA Member Eden Springs UK have taken enormous steps to ensure that their employees’ physical and mental health is boosted during the Covid-19 pandemic.

During lockdown, a large number of their employees were working from home, and continue to do so. They were sent regular health and well-being communications including top tips when working from home, 10 minute desk work outs, and monthly well-being toolkits covering topics such as rest and sleep, back care and active minds.

DSE assessments were carried out for all home working employees, as well as providing all with useful advice on properly setting up a workstation to avoid any problems.

From April – June a company-wide step count challenge has been set up, encouraging employees to work together, get more active and generate some healthy competition between colleagues!

Colleagues from different departments have been forming teams using fabulous names like “Between a Walk and a Hard Place” and “Worst Pace Scenario”, logging their steps and winning prizes.

Weekly online lunch time mindfulness sessions were available to all employees, as well as running 2 NHS Mental Health First Aid courses.  Eden Springs now have 17 Managers across the UK who are trained to recognise the signs of mental ill-health and support others to seek the right help.

Eden Springs UK are committed to continuous improvement for all and believe that by investing in training, it encourages employees to build resilience and strengthen their skills for future growth. They offer employees courses in Time Management, Mental Health Awareness, Developing Personal Resilience, Dealing with Change, Customer for Life and Coaching for Performance.

Recent Posts

  • Is it time for your business to wet its feet with the water footprint?
  • UK Water Dispensers top 800,000 for the first time
  • WHA and Just a Drop plan to bring fresh water to hundreds in Zambia
  • Drink water, stay young & healthy
  • Hydrate this ‘Dry’ January with the help of the WHA

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    • Is it time for your business to wet its feet with the water footprint? 24th October 2023
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