WHEN IS IT OK TO DRINK AND DRIVE?

Wellbeing expert warns that concentration decreases by 12% with only 1% dehydration -presenting a serious risk to business drivers

According to innovative wellbeing organisation, Water Wellpoint*, there is a right time for drivers to drink - but only water.  The company has looked specifically at the impact of dehydration on driver performance and is alerting Fleet and HR managers to consider the wellbeing of drivers on the road all day.  It believes this issue has not been fully considered until now and is alerting companies after the first international conference on road safety at work, held in Washington by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and partners.

"It is a well known fact that drinking plenty of fluids is good for you, but organisations may not realise how it can impact on the performance of their fleet drivers," explains Colin Wilson, Research Scientist, Water Wellpoint. "Our research, which looks at the impact of dehydration on concentration for drivers, shows that it only takes 1% dehydration by weight to impact concentration by 12%.  With the threat of fleet insurance premiums increasing this year it is crucial that businesses look at this issue as part of their duty of care responsibilities."

Dehydration is the loss of water essential for body function, which occurs when more liquids are lost than taken in. The loss of these liquids only needs to go over 2% to see the performance of concentration, motor speed, eye co-ordination and short term memory reduced by 20%. Yet headaches, clumsiness and fatigue are all signs of dehydration that drivers might blame on other factors.  But as Water Wellpoint research has identified, it could simply be that they need to drink more water.

If dehydration goes up to 2%, concentration drops by 20%, while motor speed, which governs reaction times, goes down by 15%. Crucially for drivers, hand-eye co-ordination drops by 12%, while general efficiency falls by 18%. Arithmetic ability and short term memory also suffer, dropping 10% and 13% respectively. If it goes above 2%, all are reduced by around 20%.

"We all lose approximately 2.5 litres of water each day" continued Colin Wilson.  "So even mild dehydration, a reduction of as little as 2% can significantly affect both an employee's physical and intellectual performance at work - including driving.  To combat this, drinking water will play a valuable role in reducing an individual's stress levels through positive alliesthelsia (the sense of wellbeing that is felt) when individuals drink something cold.  Fleet and HR Managers should, therefore, make hydration a key message in their duty of care for staff, ensuring they stay safe out on the road.

"Water helps to improve attention, concentration and memory, which are all vital for drivers. Making sure staff drink enough fluids when out on the road can form a simple, yet effective part of a company's duty of care, especially in difficult winter conditions. Most people wait until they feel thirsty before drinking, but they will be already dehydrated by this stage. Managers need to make sure that their staff aim to drink around two litres of liquid a day to increase their chances of staying on the ball, especially on long distances."

Water Wellpoint is a business that focuses on hydration and its importance for wellbeing at and during work.  Central to the Water Wellpoint's activities is its unique interactive health kiosk, the Water Wellpoint.  This enables employees to increase their own awareness of their vital signs and overall health and wellbeing and then set their own health goals.  The Water Wellpoint allows individuals to self-test themselves at work using six key indicators of their general health. These include weight, hydration quota, body mass index, body fat content, heart rate and blood pressure and all can be measured simply and accurately in around five minutes.

A confidential print-out of results is provided to the individual showing how they compare with accepted medical standards. The Water Wellpoint offers a quick and easy early-warning system for potential problems, as well as a way for each individual to highlight areas they can work on to improve their personal health and wellbeing. The health kiosk can easily be taken into businesses to help them engage with staff and encourage them to play an active role in their own wellbeing.

* Wellpoint is a registered trademark solely owned by the Wellpoint Group Limited

For an interview with Colin Wilson or further press information please contact the Water Wellpoint Press Office at HSL:
Maddy Roles/Louise Fowler/Wendy Harrison - 020 8977 9132
maddy@harrisonsadler.com