December 4, 2017
Allan Winter - Blackwoods Warehouse Manager
Even though we may not always realise it, a huge proportion of Australian workers are going through the day dehydrated. While the signs aren’t always obvious, dehydration can have a serious negative impact on mood, energy levels, productivity and ultimately, long term health.
With summer in full effect, we’ve asked Blackwoods Warehouse Manager Allan Winter to share his top five tips for ensuring you stay hydrated while on the job when the mercury rises:
It doesn’t matter how many fans or the amount of ventilation it’s inevitable there will be plenty of days over the next few months where the warehouse becomes extremely hot. Too many times I’ve seen first-hand the consequences of people not looking after themselves in the hot weather, and the mental and physical toll it takes. Here are five things I make sure I do on hot days to stay healthy and comfortable and minimise the risk of dehydration.
- No matter how often we’re told the importance of drinking plenty of water, the fact is that too many workers still don’t drink enough, especially on the really hot days. I have a 750ml water bottle which is refilled every 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how hot it is. This importantly leads into point number two.
- I make sure to have a water bottle with me at all time. Having a water bottle increases the likelihood of drinking water consistently throughout the day instead of waiting until you become thirsty, which means you’re already on your way to becoming dehydrated. I like the Camelbak Eddy which importantly is spill proof, and has easy one-hand squeeze operation which means there’s no tipping required.
- It’s important to make the most of meal breaks. Fried foods which have a high content of salt can cause dehydration and should be limited. Where possible, try to ensure there are some fruit and veggies, which help with hydration, present in every meal.
- Everyone knows that caffeine has a diuretic effect, which will increase water loss and contribute to dehydration. On hot days I’ll try and limit my caffeine intake, but if I really need an afternoon coffee I’ll be sure to increase my water intake to balance it out.
- We also know from years of sports drinks ads that when you’re dehydrated your body craves electrolytes, and sometimes you need more than just water to replenish them. Being an industrial supplier we drink Sqwincher hydration drinks, which taste pretty good and are actually created for industrial workers putting in 8 or more hours a day, not just running around an oval for a couple of hours.
Summer Bundle
For a limited time get the ultimate back to work summer bundle and save over 20%.
- Camelbak 750ml 'Eddy' Water Bottle
- Sqwincher Rehydration Qwik-Stik - Mixed Flavour - Pack 50
- ParaKito Moscuito Protection - Black Band and Pellet
- Vehicle First Aid Kit
- Hamilton SPF 50+ Sunscreen 125ml