Sun Safety and Water Awareness in Nailsea

In the UK, we often make the mistake of confusing sunlight with warm weather as winter and spring come to a close – heading out into the streets with nothing but a t-shirt and an ill-placed hope. Somehow, we make the same mistake again when summer actually comes around by underestimating the effect of the hot summer sun.

With a wide array of beautiful parks, scenic countryside walks, and incredible natural places to spend time outdoors in Nailsea, sun safety and water awareness are at the forefront of our minds to ensure you and your family’s enjoyment. To that end, here are our top tricks on staying safe and hydrated this summer in Nailsea!

Staying Safe in Sunny Weather

The first step to a fun summer is to make sure you’re staying safe. The sun can be dangerous, so avoiding harm will offer a better experience. Here are some things to consider!

Suncream

Make sure you have suncream on if you’re going outside. Sunburn is painful, and can lead to increased risk of skin cancer, so avoiding it is always a good idea. Apply enough suncream of at least SPF 30 to cover all exposed skin, and reapply it every 2 hours.

Hats and Exposure

Physical coverings are another good way to prevent too much exposure to the sun. While the temperature might make you want to let loose, you should still try to stay as covered as reasonably possible. Hats can protect your face and head, lowering the chances of heatstroke or sunburn in these areas. Wearing sunglasses with UV protection is also a good idea.

Don’t confuse overcast days with days where you don’t have to cover up – you can still burn through cloud coverage!

Time in the Sun

Don’t spend too long in the sun. This causes greater risk of dehydration, heatstroke, and sunburn, requiring judicious application of suncream and plenty of water in order to stay protected. By monitoring and limiting your time in the sun, you’ll find it easier to stay safe.

A good recommendation is to avoid being in direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm. This is the window where the sun is at its strongest, so staying in the shade will provide you with some cool relief. Perhaps stop in at one of the great local cafés on the high street!

Staying Hydrated in Nailsea

Keeping hydrated is incredibly important, but something that is often overlooked. Many wait until they start to feel the effects of thirst before they act, but “if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated” (source).

Dehydration causes a number of detrimental effects, including:

  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Cramping
  • Dizziness

As such, you should make sure you stay topped up on water. Bring a bottle with you when you can – there are often places to fill up. Food intake is also important as balanced nutrition helps the body with staying hydrated, mostly due to important minerals like sodium.

Refill Stations

The Refill app is a great way to see what water refill stations are nearby, and how far away they are. This extends beyond Nailsea as well, making it a great tool for anyone to use while out and about. Some of the businesses that offer water refills in Nailsea, both on the high street and at Crown Glass, include:

  • Costa Coffee (including at Tesco)
  • Parsons Bakery
  • The Glassmaker
  • Simply Green Zero Waste
  • Beauty Kitchen at Holland & Barrett

You can even stop on by at 65 High Street! We have a water refill station here, and are happy to chat.

Wherever you go, these refill stations act as a friendly way to connect our community, and provide a much-needed source of hydration. This leads to environmental benefits as well, supporting the “reduce” and “reuse” aspect of reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Environmental Benefits

Using reusable bottles for your water, rather than buying one every time you go out, is a great way to help the environment. This cuts down on plastic waste, which is especially a concern given the nature of public waste bins sending their contents to landfill.

The accessibility of water and refilling stations also promotes healthier drinking habits too, cutting back on sugary soft drinks and caffeine which can lead to further dehydration.

Depending on the bottle you go with, there can also be some fun added benefits. Nifty gadgets like AirUp bottles allow you to add extra flavour to water via scent, while thermos flasks help to keep water cooler for longer. You can even find hydration-tracking bottles that show you how much you should be drinking by a given time, helping you stay ahead.

Catching a Flight?

The nearby Bristol Airport acts as an important transportation hub for Nailsea and all of Somerset. However, with the old hand luggage liquid limit laws coming back into effect, it can be easy to underprepare in terms of your water supply. Notorious airport prices then eat into your holiday fund as you purchase enough water to get by.

Luckily, as of 2023, Bristol Airport now has an impressive array of free water refilling stations. These allow you to refill any bottles you do have with you, at no cost, ensuring you have consistent access to hydration.

Spend Summer in the Sun in Nailsea

There’s always lots to get up to in Nailsea this summer. From a trip to the Millenium Park or the Nailsea Skate Park, to a trek around a shady woodland trail, make sure all your adventures are paired with proper planning and protective measures against heat and harmful rays.

For more information, or to let us know about any fun events or activities you’ve found that make the most of the good weather, get in touch today!

Explore the free sports facilities at the Millenium Park in Nailsea >