With temperatures setting all-time highs around the globe (July 21, 2024, was the hottest day recorded on earth!), we've come up with expert-approved ways to stay cool even if your AC isn't working (or you don't have it at all).
1. Stay hydrated. You may think that high
humidity may mean you don't have to be
as diligent about drinking water, but you'd
be wrong. Dehydration is the biggest
reason people succumb to heat stroke in
high temperatures. Replenishing your
electrolytes by drinking Gatorade or
other potassium and magnesium-rich
drinks between bottles of water will help
even more.
2. Create your own Air Conditioner. Place a bowl or cooler of ice in front of a fan and enjoy a cool
breeze.
3. Spritz yourself with water. Keep a spray bottle in the fridge and spray your face and clothes. If you
can sit in front of a fan afterwards, that will increase the cooling factor. If you don't have a fan
either, you should spray your wrists and the back of your neck to cool down the blood flowing
through your veins.
4. Turn off your computer. The average computer can raise the temperature in a room by 9° F in a 12-
hour-period! Put your computer in sleep mode so it isn't generating as much heat when you are
not using it.
And don't use a computer on your lap. If you haven't realized it yet, the term laptop isn't used
anymore because they aren't comfortable being used on a lap because of the heat. The term
used now is notebook, perhaps so you'll leave it on a desk and stay cool.
5. Air dry your dishes. Skip the drying cycle in your dishwasher, which can get up to 140° F - and that
heat ends up in your kitchen.
6. Wear loose, natural fiber clothing that allows air to flow across your skin so the moisture can
evaporate into the air. Moisture-wicking fabrics are a great option too, as they wick away sweat
and leave you feeling less sticky.
7. Wear sandals or go barefoot. As cool air passes over your feet (where the skin is thinner), the
blood in your veins also cools and is then distributed throughout your body. That's one of the
reasons sticking your feet in cool water feels so good so quickly.
8. This trick is not for everyone - eat some spicy food. Peppers contain capsaicin, which allows the
body to sweat more easily, and the evaporation process cools the skin.
9. Eat hydrating food like berries, watermelon, and veggies. Watermelon is a tasty way to get your
fluids, as it is nearly 92% water. Try it frozen in a glass of water to double the effect.
10. Grill outdoors, skip using the oven or range. Even the idea of turning on an oven on a hot day is
unappealing. Keep the cooking heat outdoors.
11. Hang your clothes outside to dry. You may never go back after you smell how fresh your towels
are. Skin the dryer and hang your clothes on an inside line if you don't have space outdoors. It
may take longer, but your electric bill for heating the clothes and cooling the air will be better for
it.
12. Make a cold compress. Fill a cotton sock with rice and put it in the freezer for two hours. You can
use it at bedtime on your forehead, or between the sheets to cool the air and surface. Rice holds
onto heat and cold longer because it is dense and starchy. You can reuse the compress in the
winter by putting it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
13. Try reading a book about winter. It's a sort of self-hypnosis that will take your mind off the heat
and put it in frozen Russia (Dr. Zhivago) or Alaska (Call of the Wild). It's a case of mind over matter.
14. Did you know there are "cooling sheets?" Most are made from natural materials like cotton, linen,
bamboo, hemp, and tencel (a cellulose fiber made from the eucalyptus tree). These materials
promote airflow and moisture-wicking to keep the body cool and regulate temperature during
sleep.
15. If the temperature outside is 77° F or below, use a window fan, but not as you might think. The
best way to cool your home is to have a fan at one end blowing air in while another at the other
end is blowing the air out. If you only have one fan, it is more effective to have it blowing out so it
is drawing the hot air from the house.
16. Keep moisture in the house to a minimum. If you must cook indoors, try to limit the use of boiling
water, and if taking a shower, make it as cool as you can stand. Be sure to use your oven and
shower vents and keep them running until all condensation has disappeared.
17. Folk who live in Palm Springs or Phoenix use wet sheets in their windows and doors when the
temperature outside is dryer and cooler than inside. Incoming breezes are cooled by the
evaporating water.
18. Make sure your ceiling fans are turning counterclockwise in the summer. This pushes the air
downward, creating a cooling breeze.
19. Ditch the incandescent bulbs. Almost 90% of their energy is released as heat, not as light. Switch
to LEDs, as the most efficient ones convert 80% of their energy to light.
20. Avoid alcohol. Yes, a frozen margherita may sound fabulous at the end of a hot day, but alcohol
dehydrates you. If you feel an alcoholic drink is a must, be sure to have a glass of water between
drinks, and particularly before you go to bed. You'll feel better in the morning, too.
21. Pay attention to the heat index, which factors in temperature and humidity. In humid conditions, it
is harder for sweat to evaporate, and you'll not only feel hotter, but your body will actually be
hotter as a result.
22. If you are cool and dry indoors and need to go out into the heat, you can prep your body to
handle it better for the short term. Drinking a cold beverage and/or taking a cold shower will
cause a slight dip in your core temperature - what scientists call a "heat sink." When you go
outside, you will heat your tissues to their normal levels first. In other words, you will delay the
sweating needed to regulate your body temperature.
What are your favorite tips for staying cool when temperatures soar?
Sources: Thread Smoothly, MIT, Real Simple Magazine, Healthline, Self Magazine
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