Not drinking enough water can be very harmful to our health, especially as we get older; the older we get, the more water our bodies need. This is simply down to the way in which our bodies are built and the changes that occur over time; by the age of 80, natural hydration levels decrease by roughly 15% - a dangerous percentage. Additionally, a lack of water can lead to dangerous levels of body loss; anything over 10% can lead to death.

Body loss can be the cause of losing fluids through sweating, being ill etc and if fluids are not replaced, this can be extremely dangerous and may not be a case of then drinking lots of water; a hospital or doctor may have to give a person sodium chloride in order to help the patient retain their lost fluids.  

Its not only the elderly that need to ensure they drink enough water, but everyone as our bodies need water in order for us to function properly and to maintain our health.

Causes of Dehydration

There are more ways than one when it comes to our bodies being able to lose vast amounts of fluid. We often think about losing a lot of fluid through sweating once we’ve exercised, but its not only this that causes us to lose large amounts of fluid from our bodies. Sometimes when were ill, we sweat profusely and more than what we realise, which is why we are very vulnerable when were ill to being or becoming severely dehydrated.  

For instance, vomiting and/or contracting a bug that causes diarrhoea, then the likelihood is that without drinking water, you can quite easily become severely dehydrated due to the mass amounts of fluid lost. The more obvious reason for becoming dehydrated is due to not drinking enough water.

Staying Hydrated at Work

Due to the dangers that a lack of water intake can bring, there should be water coolers installed in each and every office across the UK.

Having water coolers implemented and drinking water readily available for employees can be highly beneficial to their health and work output. Also, being properly hydrated helps their concentration levels. Water certainly keeps us fresh and lessens the other aspects such as fatigue, dizziness, headaches and a general feeling of being unwell.

Maintain Employees Health

Water flushes out toxins that have built up in the body and because of this, drinking plenty of water helps a person to maintain a good and healthy diet; it’s not the be all and end all, however, it goes a long way to providing a good balance. Water also keeps the body cool, so on a hot day, more water should be drunk in order to keep hydrated and to minimise the amount of sweat that a person produces.

As water can help in many ways and for various reasons, employers and owners should be looking to have water coolers available for employees on the office floor. Many offices are equipped with vending machines; however, this can help encourage employees to purchase the wrong types of drinks such as Coca Cola, Coffee and so on. Drinks with high sugar and/or caffeine levels can have a negative impact on a person’s health and concentration levels. For example, too much coffee can make a person hyperactive and therefore, distracting others and not getting on with their own work to an acceptable standard.

Conclusion

With the availability of water coolers, fresh, clean water is at the ready and makes it more appealing than if an employee has to purchase bottled water from a vending machine; 9 times out of ten they will buy a different drink. For these reasons alone, it’s undoubtedly beneficial for companies and business owners to invest in a water cooler. 

Ashley, the author of this article has worked in the water cooler industry for many years and has gained much knowledge and experience