SPONSORED EDITORIAL

Are you doing enough to beat the heat during these hot summer months?

Here are some great tips to stay cool and if you happen to be travelling by rail in Kent, help is at hand!

Southeastern has linked up with the University of Kent to offer passengers free health checks at Margate and Rochester station and these are some of the useful tips they are encouraging to stay cool this summer.

The four pop-ups will be hosted at the stations throughout the month of July in a bid to encourage well-being amongst passengers when travelling in hot weather.

The train operator and University of Kent are inviting passengers to take part in a free health check during which free tests will be offered for their blood glucose levels, blood pressure and core temperature.

There will also be questionnaires about their fluid intake.

The aim is to create awareness regarding the importance of adequate nutrition and hydration when travelling especially during the warmer months.

The pop-up at Rochester Station took place in the first week of July and will be followed up in Margate on Wednesday, July 10 and Thursday, July 11 between 3pm and 6pm.

Avoiding the heat in summer is no easy feat, particularly if you need to be dashing to the office, gym or school pick-up.

If you find yourself feeling unwell, remember to have a cold drink to cool down.

READ MORE ABOUT SOUTHEASTERN’S BEAT THE HEAT CAMPAIGN

Here are some useful tips to keep your cool while travelling by train this summer:

• Carry water with you
• Don’t board a train if you feel unwell
• If you feel unwell while on-board, get off at the next stop and our staff will be able to help you
• Avoid using the emergency alarm on-board if you’re feeling unwell – we can get help to you more quickly at the next station

“This is an important campaign because people often don’t adjust their fluid intake during the warmer months,” said Lucy Hale who is Lecturer in Sports Nutrition at The University of Kent.

“We lead increasingly busy lives and we know it is easy to forget to have breakfast sometimes, but with a heatwave around the corner, we’d advise people grab at least a drink and snack for their journey before heading out of the house.”

Last summer, train services were delayed for the equivalent of four days due to passengers becoming ill on trains on the Southeastern network.

The company strongly urges their passengers to carry water with them and maintain sugar levels throughout the day to stay well.

Staying cool and healthy is important for all – including those falling ill on trains - as well as those caught up in the consequent delays.

“We are looking forward to working with the University of Kent and creating awareness on the importance of having a hearty breakfast and staying hydrated during the summer months,” added Passenger Services Director David Wornham.

“We want the best for our passengers and this includes making sure that they stay fit and healthy when travelling in warmer weather.

“We encourage them to travel with water to drink on their journey and if a passenger does feel ill, either not to board the train or wait until they reach a station to seek assistance from our staff who are on hand to help.”

Click here for more information about Southeastern’s pop-ups.