Just when you thought it was warm enough to go back in the water … the Stephen Collins cartoon
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The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
I tested insulated water bottles during heat wave – one didn't even keep liquid cool while winner cost £12
WITH the warm weather continuing, it's a good idea to carry water around with us. Since Chilly's insulated bottles hit the market in 2010, almost every shop had produced their own version to keep your drink cold. 9 Here, Thea Jacobs And Lily Richardson put stores' insulated bottles to the test to see if they can keep your water ice cold all day long. Each bottle contained chilled water and was placed in direct sunlight for 8 hours on a blistering 30C day, and tested hourly. We rate each one out of five. Insulated Travel Flask Beige, 420ml, Tesco, £8 THIS flask isn't much to look at, but would fit in perfectly in a nice minimalist home. It's primarily designed for taking coffees or teas out and keep them warm, but it doesn't do too badly with cold drinks in this test. When I put the water into the flask, it was 19.9C degrees. An hour in and it had actually dropped by 0.2C to 19.7C. The flip lid is easy to use, and it has a smooth directional pour for the liquid to stop spillages. You can turn it upside down and shake it with no leaks at all. After six hours the water temperature had risen to 23.3C and the lid was hot to touch. This doesn't hold as much liquid as the others. I've wasted £100s on leaky water bottles so put 7 to the test for back-to-school Temp rise: 4.5C Rating: 3/5 Smidge Reusable Water Bottle, 500ml, Ocado, £15 9 THIS is certainly an assault on the eyes, but given the fluorescent orange, you'd be hard-pressed to ever lose or forget this bottle. For its size, it's more expensive than the other options but it does prove worth the cost as I measure the water temperature across eight hours. It started at 17C when I put the water in, and in an hour it had only risen 0.3C. This is a nicely sealed bottle and doesn't leak when placed on its side or turned upside down. After six hours in the sun, the bottle is warm to touch but not hot and the water inside is still cool at 20.2C. After eight hours the liquid measured 21.6C. Rating: 4/5 Contigo Streeterville Thermalock Tumbler 1.2l, Ocado, £30 9 A dupe of a Stanley Cup that has become super popular. It has a removable straw, but there is nowhere to store it when not in use, which seems to be a design flaw. It also has a chug hole. While this takes the biggest volume of liquid, it's not watertight and leaks when everything is closed and lying on its side. When I turn it upside down, it's like a miniature Niagara Falls. After an hour the water temperature has risen from 19.8C to 20C. After six hours the flask is really hot to touch. After eight hours the water temperature had risen to 25.5C. Rating: 1/5 Sistema, 500ml, Waitrose, £12 9 THIS is a gorgeous pinky-purple colour and looks really stylish. It's a decent price for the size and doesn't leak when turned upside down or on its side. The matt coating to the outside keeps it nice and cool despite it spending eight hours in the sunshine at 30C. This is by far the best insulated bottle. After two hours the temperature has only risen to 19.5C, 0.5C higher than it was when I filled the bottle. After six hours the bottle is a little warm to the touch but it is still much cooler than the others. After eight hours, the water temperature had risen to 23.1C Temp rise: 4.1C Rating: 5/5 Gym + Coffee 750ml, £22 9 THIS is the third largest of the insulated bottles I tested and one I've heard pals raving about to take to the gym – possibly because of the name. It's a screw top and is watertight when turned on its side and upside down. After an hour, the temperature of the water inside had risen by 0.5C. After two, the bottle had become extremely hot to touch but the water remained a cool 19.6C. I'm starting to see why people rate this bottle. After eight hours in direct sunlight the water temperature had risen to 23C. While this keeps the liquid super cool, it does become very hot to touch, which makes holding it to take a swig quite hard – but that is the only down side. Temp rise: 4C Rating: 4/5 Insulated Dual Adventure Water Bottle Cup With Handle 880ml, Tesco, £12 9 THE design of this insulated bottle makes it look a bit like a baby's sippy cup crossed with a Stanley bottle – and I can't say I'm a fan. The dual straw and chug hole are a nice touch and make it easy to drink whatever the weather. It doesn't leak when laid on its side or turned upside down. Given that it holds a large volume of water, I was expecting the liquid to stay cooler for longer, but that wasn't the case. Within an hour it had risen 1.3C from 20.4C. Thanks to the colour of the bottle – white reflects the sun – it didn't get hot to touch during the eight hours it spent in direct sunlight. At the end of the day, the water in the bottle was 25.5C. Rating: 2/5 Black Matt 500ml Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle, WHSmith, £14.99 9 THIS looks like a classic Chilly's insulated bottle, but it's a WHSmith's own-brand dupe. It's a dark colour which makes me think it'll become very hot to touch after eight hours in the sunlight – and it turns out that I'm right. After just two hours the lid, which needs to be screwed off, is scorching hot. Thankfully, the contents of the bottle are quite cool still. The water temperature was 19.3C when poured in and after two hours it had risen to 20.7C. After six hours in the sun, the entire bottle is hot and hard to handle. I had to use a tea towel to try sipping the contents. After eight hours the liquid inside measured 23.5C. Rating: 3/5 NPW Hydrate Feel Great, Waterstones, £6.99 9 IT may look like an insulated water bottle, with a nice colour and motivational slogan, but it isn't actually insulated – just a regular run-of-the-mill water bottle. So in terms of it giving you a cooling drink, you'd either need to keep it in a shady spot, or, better still, find a fridge to put it in. When I filled the bottle the water temperature was 19C, after just an hour in the sun it had risen to 28.7C. Despite the soaring temperature, the bottle still feels cool to touch so is easy to handle. However, after standing for eight hours in direct sunlight and 30C heat, the temperature of the water inside had risen to 33.6C.
The Sun
13 hours ago
- The Sun
I'm a GP – here's the 9 surprising signs your child is dangerously dehydrated and what you must do
WITH warm weather with us again, Brits will be trying to balance keeping cool with making the most of the sunshine. But doctors are urging parents to watch for signs of dehydration in their kids as temperatures rise. 4 4 After weeks of grey weather and showers, Brits are finally set to be treated to some more summer-y weather, according to the Met Office. Some areas will even experience balmy heats of 34C, as the mercury soars, said the forecaster. Temperatures are expected to be highest in central and southern England, particularly in London, but are expected to be up by at least a degree or two, right across the UK. GP and clinical consultant for Dr Sarah Jarvis told The Sun that dehydration is something that should concern all parents, whatever the age of their tots. But mums and dads should be "particularly careful" if their children are under one, she stressed - even more so if their baby is six months and younger, was born prematurely or had a low birth weight. Factors like tummy bugs - which are extremely common in young children, according to Dr Jarvis - and whether you've recently stopped breastfeeding your tot might make dehydration more likely, she went on. The GP listed the nine signs parents should watch out for indicating their children are dangerously dehydrated. 1. They're weeing less For kids still wearing nappies, you might notice they have fewer wet ones, Dr Jarvis said. She said less than four wet nappies a day could mean your baby is parched. For kids who are potty and toilet trained, parents should take not if they're going less frequently and their wee is "dark and strong smelling", the GP added. 2. They're not producing tears If your little one is crying but not producing any tears, that's a red flag that they need some liquids, Dr Jarvis said. 3. They have a sunken soft spot on their head Babies have soft spot on the top of their head that's called a fontanelle. If this is sunken, this means your tot is dehydrated, Sarah explained. 4. They have sunken eyes Another thing to watch out for in children - not just babies - is sunken eyes. 5. Their lips are dry 4 You should check if your child's lips, mouth and tongue look dry - if so, it's a sign they need some water, Dr Jarvis said. 6. They're complaining As children get older, they'll obviously be able to tell you if they're feeling thirsty, so keep an ear out, Dr Jarvis advised parents. 7. Their hands and feet are cold If your kid's hands and feet are cold despite the heat, this is a dehydration red flag, according to the GP. When you're dehydrated, your circulation might shut down and be diverted from your peripherals - your hands and feet - so it can supply your vital organs, she explained. 8. They seem irritable 4 Another sign to look out for is if your baby or child seems irritable, drowsy or confused. 9. They're breathing faster than normal Your tot breathing faster than normal could again indicate dehydration, as can a faster heartbeat. Most parents won't easily be able to spot a change in their kid's heart rate that easily, but Dr Jarvis said a change in breathing would be noticeable. What do I do to avoid dehydration? "Do remember that children will be happy to run in the sun," Dr Jarvis said. But she said it was important to keep them out of the rays, particularly between 11 and three o'clock. Babies under six months should be kept out of the sun completely, the GP emphasised. And she advised you slather your kids in SPF 50 sun cream. Dr Jarvis added: "Sun suits can be really helpful." These body-covering suits are made of a light, stretchy fabric that can block out UV rays better than loose weave clothing, even it they totally cover your tot's skin. You also pop a hat on your kids' and babies' heads, she went on - it should have a flap at the back to cover their neck and a cap in the front to cover their face. Most of all, "make sure that a drink is always there," Dr Jarvis stressed. Fully breastfed babies don't need any extra water and formula should be enough to keep bottle fed little ones hydrated too. Carry on feeding you baby as usual, but you can give them smaller and more frequent amounts if you think they're dehydrated, NHS guidance stated. If your baby is on formula or on solid food, you can give them small sips of extra water - this should be boiled and cooled. You shouldn't make your babies formula weaker or young children fruit juice or fizzy drinks, the NHS said. Finally, to keep your kids cool, Dr Jarvis recommended you make sure their bedrooms don't heat up throughout the day by closing the blinds. If you have a nursery thermometer, the ideal temperature for the space will be between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius, the GP said. And a cool bath before bedtime can be helpful, Dr Jarvis added.
The Independent
14 hours ago
- The Independent
Urgent drought and wildfires warning issued amid UK heatwave
England is facing "nationally significant" water shortfalls, officials have warned, despite July's rainfall, as the country braces for continued hot, dry conditions. The national drought group, which includes the Met Office, regulators, government, water companies and other organisations, convened as five regions of England remain in official drought, with six others experiencing prolonged dry weather. The scarcity of water is inflicting widespread environmental and agricultural damage across England, impacting crop yields, diminishing livestock feed, harming wetlands and river ecosystems, and escalating the risk of wildfires, the group reported. Experts caution that climate change is intensifying extreme weather patterns in the UK, exacerbating droughts and dry spells while making heatwaves more frequent and severe. Despite July's unsettled weather and heavy downpours in many areas, it was still recorded as the fifth warmest on record. In addition, river flows and reservoir levels have continued to drop since June, now sitting significantly below typical levels for this time of year. Dry weather has returned in August, with the fourth heatwave of the summer set to see temperatures climb into the 30s once more – putting extra pressure on overstretched water supplies. Reservoir levels fell 2 per cent last week and are now 67.7 per cent full on average across England, compared to the 80.5 per cent normally seen for the first week of August and down on the 75.6 per cent average last month, the Environment Agency said. The lowest reservoirs are Blithfield, Staffordshire, Derwent Valley group of reservoirs in Derbyshire, and Chew Valley Lake and Blagdon Lake in Somerset, all of which are less than half full. Nearly half of England's rivers (49 per cent) had below normal, notable or exceptionally low flows in July, with two – the Wye and Ely Ouse – at their lowest on record. There are currently navigation closures or restrictions across sections of the Leeds and Liverpool, Macclesfield, Trent and Mersey, Peak Forest, Rochdale, Oxford and Grand Union Canal. Despite wet conditions for many in July, rainfall was 89 per cent of the long-term average for the month across England, making it the sixth consecutive month of below-average rainfall, the Environment Agency (EA) said. Figures from the EA also show central England has had the driest February to July since 1921. There appears to be no or little let-up in the dry conditions for some areas in the coming days, according to the Met Office. Dr Will Lang, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'This week is starting off warmer than of late across England and Wales, with temperatures getting towards the mid-30s Celsius for some in the south. 'While conditions remain mostly settled across the south, the picture is more unsettled further north-west, with rain or showers at times. 'As we move into the second half of August there are indications of high pressure building and therefore largely settled conditions overall. 'Although dry weather is more likely, rain, showers or thunderstorms cannot be ruled out.' Officials have praised the public for following hosepipe bans, which are in place for all Yorkshire Water customers, and parts of the regions served by Thames Water, South East Water and Southern Water. People are being urged to take simple actions such as turning off taps and deleting old emails – which reduces demand for water to cool data centres – to help reduce the impact on the environment. Yorkshire Water has reported a 10 per cent reduction in domestic demand following their hosepipe ban – a saving of up to 80 million litres a day or 32 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The EA's director of water and national drought group chairwoman Helen Wakeham said: 'The current situation is nationally significant and we are calling on everyone to play their part and help reduce the pressure on our water environment. 'Water companies must continue to quickly fix leaks and lead the way in saving water. 'We know the challenges farmers are facing and will continue to work with them, other land users and businesses to ensure everyone acts sustainably. 'We are grateful to the public for following the restrictions, where in place, to conserve water in these dry conditions. 'Simple, everyday choices – such as turning off a tap or deleting old emails – also really helps the collective effort to reduce demand and help preserve the health of our rivers and wildlife.' National Farmers' Union vice-president Rachel Hallos said farmers and growers continued to face extremely dry conditions. 'Some farms are reporting significant drop in yields which is financially devastating for the farm business and could have impacts for the UK's overall harvest,' she said. 'Farming is a long-term industry and there is growing concern about the months ahead. 'Minimal grass growth means many livestock farmers are already tapping into winter feed stocks, raising the risk of higher production costs later in the year.' She called for investment in water infrastructure and a more effective planning system. Experts warn periods of dry weather and low rivers – some of which are used to provide drinking water for people in the regions through which they flow – reduce oxygen levels in water that can lead to fish kills, algal blooms and prevent wildlife moving up and down the river. Drying out wetlands hits species that rely on the habitat while an increase of wildfires are hitting heathland and moorland. A major incident declared at a wildfire at Holt Heath, Dorset – along with the blaze on Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh – prompted the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) to issue a warning that fire services do not have the resources to keep the public safe. With rising temperatures this week, fire and rescue services are likely to face an increase in incidents, but funding cuts have left them without enough crews and resources, the FBU said, pointing to the Holt Heath fire which drew in firefighters from five neighbouring services. FBU general secretary Steve Wright said wildfires were 'intensive and dangerous incidents' which required large numbers of firefighters and specialist equipment. 'These incidents are on the rise as a result of the climate emergency and, as the last 24 hours have shown, they are happening in areas across the UK,' he said, warning budget cuts meant services did not have the resources to cope. He added: 'To protect the public, the Government must provide the investment needed to address this crisis and rebuild resilience.'
