How To Stay Cool In Hot Weather

With the Heat Dome sitting on top of the Eastern US there is going to be a lot of heat related issues.

You need to stay cool or you’ll suffer from Heat Exhaustion or even Heat Stroke. If you stop sweating you are in trouble.

1. Stay Hydrated

The most important thing is to drink plenty of water. Adding flavorings is fine but soda and the like don’t help nearly as much. And drink it cool, with lots of ice. The ice will help reduce your body’s internal temperature.

2. Go To Cool Places

If you don’t have air conditioning go some place that does. The mall, the library, family or friends.

Or you can go into the basement. The earth tends to be near 55F down there, so the basement will be cooler.

Go to the beach, it takes a lot of heat to warm up water so the water will be cooler for a while so dangling your feet in the water will help, Even a cold shower before bed can help you sleep easier.

3. Take Advantage of Thermodynamics

It takes a lot of energy to heat water, and cooling water uses a lot of energy too. Placing a pan of ice in front of a fan will provide some cooling as long as the ice lasts.

If the humidity is low say under 50% you can just use wet towels or sheets and as the water evaporates it will cool you down. This is an old trick, the ancient Egyptians would use damp sheets to stay cool at night. You can also spray the drapes to get a similar effect.

4. Ice Packs

Ice packs are great, especially the ones that are flexible. They stay cool for hours. but if they are too expensive you can make your own.

Make Your Own Ice Pack

2 zip top freezer bags gallon sized

2 cups, about 1 bottle,  Green liquid dishwashing soap

Place one bag inside of the other and fill it about 1/4 full with the dish soap. remove as much air as possible and seal both bags. Then freeze for 4-6 hours, use as needed to stay cool.

The second bag is to prevent leaks. Green colored liquid soap stays more flexible then the other colors are low temperatures.

Make a Cooling Rice Sock

If you have some rice handy, fill a clean sock with rice and freeze it for 6-8 hours. Put it under your pillow to keep it cool, and you cool as you flip over the pillow.

5. Eat Appropriately

Eat water rich foods and limit the amount of protein you eat. The effort to metabolize protein will generate more heat within you.

Eat spicy foods, a good hot salsa will make you sweat more and increase blood circulation, cooling you off.

6. Turn Off Heat Producing Devices

Turn off as many of the big heat producing devices in your home as you can. If you put your hand on top of something and it is warm it is producing heat. Computers, TVs, Stove, Oven, and those kinds of things all produce heat, so turn them off if you can.

Also look for plug in power supplies for electronics like the phone charger, and the like, they often produce heat, unplug them.

Lights, especially incandescents produce lots of heat so turn them off. CFLs produce less heat and LEDs produce the least heat. You don’t have to do all your bulbs but the ones around the bed would be the best place to start.