by Fern Shaw | Nov 5, 2018 | water cooler
Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot …
and if you don’t recognise or remember this rhyme, I have to ask, where have you been for the – oh, last hundred years or so?
I’ve just come fresh from a night of Halloween trick or treating and am preparing myself for the 5th of November (today, that is). As a kid this was never a problem. The parents bought boxes of fireworks, family came round, night fell and fireworks were lit. The gorgeous night sky in the countryside where we lived lit up with sparkling brilliance in ice whites, yellows, greens, reds, blues and my favourite, purple. We didn’t build a bonfire or burn an effigy (perhaps we were a bit less bloodthirsty, not sure), but those evenings still hold some of my best memories.
If you are one of the ones that have no idea of what Guy Fawkes is about, let me draw your attention to Messrs. Wiki:
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in Great Britain.
Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding explosives the plotters had placed beneath the House of Lords. Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London, and months later the introduction of the Observance of 5th November Act enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot’s failure.
There is a lot more history to do with Guy Fawkes, pages of the stuff, but you have the bare bones of it for now.
What I have noticed over the years is that the day itself has morphed into something of a trial for many people and in many cases, understandably so. Apart from human beings seeming to sometimes have an in-built twit gene (setting off fireworks in an enclosed space; near flammable materials and nowhere near water and allowing children to light fireworks unmonitored), the effect that the explosions have on animals is pretty devastating and horrific + they don’t get to have a say in the matter.
So sadly I must say that although I’ve always really loved fireworks and would love to celebrate the day in style, this has been tempered over the years with a responsibility towards our four legged friends and I no longer buy or set off fireworks. This is, of course, a personal opinion.
The good news I suppose is that the lighting of bonfires and fireworks displays are more organised now, which means you have the opportunity to plan if you’re staying in to keep your pets calm and safe.
However you choose to observe (or ignore) this 5th of November, please keep yourself safe, keep some water handy (to drink and for dousing) and enjoy the illuminated night skies.
updated from a blog 5 Nov 2014
by Fern Shaw | Nov 2, 2018 | Water, water cooler
Our skin is one of our most precious organs and no wonder: it’s responsible for so many functions that literally keep us intact and functioning. It’s also susceptible to so many factors, both internal and external, which are potentially harmful.
Not only does our skin work as a barrier, protecting against water loss as well as physical and chemical injury, it also regulates our temperature by dilating and constricting our blood vessels near the skin surface, controlling the transfer of heat out of the body. It protects us from UV radiation by producing melanin; produces Vitamin D, which helps prevent many diseases including osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, obesity and neurological diseases.
It makes good sense then, that we should protect our body’s largest organ (around 20 square feet) and treat it with the utmost care and respect.
This doesn’t always happen, sadly, and we can tend towards abusing it (albeit inadvertently).
The good news, though, is that one of the simplest methods of protecting our skin, increasing its resilience and keeping it healthy, plump and full of elasticity throughout our lives, is by drinking water (there’s no catch here, honestly).
Our skin consists of approximately 64% water, it therefore makes sense that water is essential to maintain the optimum skin moisture and deliver essential nutrients to the skin cells. Water replenishes the skin tissue and increases its elasticity.
Drinking enough water can also help combat dry and flaky skin and skin disorders like psoriasis and eczema. It also increases the metabolic rate and improves digestive system to flush out toxins from the body. This in turn gives you a healthy and glowing skin.
Whereas we all know that immersing ourselves in water, whether we’re bathing, showering or swimming, makes us feel wonderful, we need also water internally to promote good skin health.
That’s why it’s important to make sure that you head to the happy skin station that is your water cooler, wherever that may be – it could be at home, at the office or in your fitness centre – and start treating the water cooler like it’s your new best friend, which it could be, especially when you start seeing the results that come with drinking water regularly.
by Belinda Ollewagen | Nov 2, 2018 | Uncategorized, water cooler
It’s been said that the next great wars will be fought over water, and it’s easy to see why if we consider the life-giving properties of this unassuming clear fluid plus the fact that this natural resource seems to be dwindling in many parts of the world.
Water is the only substance that all living organisms need to survive – from the smallest amoeba to the largest mammal. We all need water, so much so that the lack of water will kill you much faster than the lack of food will – survival estimates seem to vary between three to four days and one week, depending on factors like heat and exercise etc. But what exactly makes water so essential?
Water is important because it makes up the majority of our body. According to the USGS the brain and heart are composed of 73% water; the lungs 83%; the skin contains 64% water; muscles and kidneys 79%; and even our bones are 31% water. Water is vital for transporting all the nutrients, minerals and vitamins our bodies need to function optimally every day. And even slight dehydration affects this performance, both mentally and physically.
Dehydration occurs when the body is not getting enough water, or it has lost too much water which isn’t being replaced fast enough. It’s dangerous for all human beings, no matter the age, circumstance or fitness level. Having said that, the biggest risk developmentally is amongst young children where the lack of sufficient drinking water can lead to stunted growth, reduced mental ability and poor physical performance. One study showed that when 59 children aged 7 to 9 years, were divided into two groups with the one group following their normal drinking habits; and the other group offered extra water, the latter group reported less thirst and performed better when visual attention tasks were carried out.
When one considers the dangers of dehydration it’s easy to see why a water cooler is such an essential component in nearly every kind of environment, whether it be schools, offices, hospitals or care centers to name but a few. Call AquaAid today for more on what water cooler would better suit your needs.
by Belinda Ollewagen | Nov 2, 2018 | water cooler
With the heatwaves and minimal rainfall experienced across the UK this year, UK government bodies and environmental groups have warned that unless we have heavy rainfall this winter, we may be facing water restrictions of some kind in 2019 – which is worrying to say the least. We know that when we open a tap or push the button on the water cooler, drinking water will flow, but we do need to be more mindful of how much water we can save in other areas of our lives by making a few small changes. Something as simple as choosing to shower instead of bath for example can make a big difference, saving half the amount of water.
LEAKS:
The best place to start is at home. Have all your taps checked to make sure there are no leaks or drips – if there are, get someone out to repair it as soon as possible. A dripping or leaking tap can lead to thousands of liters of water simply lost forever. Not to mention a leaking toilet, if your toilet has a leak, you could be wasting about 200 litres of water every day – that equates to flushing your toilet an additional 50 times for no reason.
MINDFUL:
Another simple way to save water is to not let the water run while you’re brushing your teeth. It’s amazing how many of us stand at the basin brushing our teeth, looking in the mirror, while water literally goes down the drain. Turn off the tap to save water. The same goes for when you’re busy in the kitchen – we often leave the tap running while we clean a cup or rinse our vegetables. Try instead, to keep a bowl filled with water in the kitchen sink and use that for rinsing dishes, and another bowl to rinse fruit or vegetables – that water can then be repurposed in the garden.
In short you can actively be more vigilant about the way you use water, and you should make sure that all your water sources are functioning optimally, which includes your water cooler – whether at home or at the office, having it regularly serviced ensures that it performs as it should. For all your water cooler needs, be sure to contact AquAid – they are the UK’s leading water cooler supplier, delivering exceptional service to over 33,000 customers nationwide.
by Belinda Ollewagen | Oct 31, 2018 | water cooler
It’s nearly time for one of our favorite holidays, and if you have young children at home then you’ll understand how excitement levels begin to reach dizzying heights as the day approaches. Costumes need to be made; decorations need to be dragged out of storage and all the treats needs to be shopped for. Halloween is of course synonymous with sugar – I recently read that the average trick-or-treater collects 600g of sugar which equates to three cups of sugar! I don’t think any parent would willingly hand over three cups of sugar for their child to eat, so moderation (without being a killjoy of course) really is key along with increasing their water intake.
Between the energy expended trick-or-treating and all that extra sugar coursing through their bodies, they really do need the extra water to remain properly hydrated and to help clean out their systems. One way to help the process along is ‘Halloween Water’ – a two-pronged approach to make drinking water easier and more fun. Two-pronged, because it focuses on both the water bottles and the water itself.
To encourage trick-or-treaters to carry their water bottles with them, we suggest theming the bottles. There are a whole host of printable Halloween labels out there – Pinterest alone will keep you busy for hours trying to decide between different designs. The other option is to match the costume to the water bottle, if your child is dressing up as a vampire, make a matching outfit for their water bottle – a simple piece of black felt cut to size and tied around the neck of the water bottle makes the perfect vampire cape.
And then to make what goes inside their water bottles more enticing, have them help dice pieces of fruit to pop into their water bottles to add colour and flavor. Good combinations to try are strawberry and slices of lime; apple and cinnamon; cucumber and mint; raspberry and lemon or blueberries with ginger. Try to incorporate whatever tastes your child might enjoy as this will encourage them to keep taking those much-needed sips.
And if you happen to be celebrating Halloween at the office and it involves a glass or two of something ‘adult’, remember to make extra trips to the water cooler, because you too will need extra water to remain properly hydrated.
Happy Halloween Everyone!
by Fern Shaw | Oct 26, 2018 | water cooler
At AquAid, we understand that you may think that we belabour the point about water consumption.
We do have valid reasons for doing so though – for two decades we’ve been at the forefront of providing the best drinking water delivery service to our customers. Foremost is installing the right water cooler for our customer requirements. Also taking precedence is trying to ensure as best we can, that the customer understands the vital importance of making use of their water cooler.
The reasons are manifold – with our body’s high water content – maintaining our water consumption can literally make the difference between having the ability to perform at our peak, every day or; rapidly become lethargic: experiencing aches and pains and muscular discomfort.
The fact is that every organ in our body requires water to function well – and none more so than our muscles.
If you’ve ever wondered why you experience muscular cramps, aches and pains, the most likely cause could be dehydration.
When you’re water deficient, the heart is unable to pump oxygenated blood into the muscles as efficiently. When the muscle cells are not receiving enough oxygenated blood, they start dying, causing performance issues.
Dehydration also disrupts the electrolytes level of the muscles, causing painful cramps. This happens when the muscles are overworked and under-lubricated. Water deficiency could also increase your risk of muscle and skeletal damage.
Water helps energise muscles. Cells that don’t maintain their balance of fluids and electrolytes shrivel, which can result in muscle fatigue. When muscle cells don’t have adequate fluids, they don’t work as well and performance can suffer. Drinking water regularly helps lubricate the muscles along with the joints, bones, and ligaments. It boosts performance and extends endurance.
If you require a solution to ensure that everyone at your work place, fitness centre or work site has easy access to refreshing drinking water every day, speak to us at AquAid. We’ll get you watered up in no time at all.
