KEEP YOUR COOL
Linda Byard
If you are wondering how to
“keep
your cool,” during the occasional heat wave, without air
conditioners
or other expensive devices, these tips may help you:
YOUR
HOUSE:
Close your windows in the morning, generally before 9
AM, or as
soon as the outside temperature begins to exceed the temperature inside
your house. Cover each window with a shade or blind, or even
make-shift protection to cut down on solar heat gain. Open your windows
at night to capture the cooler night air. Buy fans to
circulate the
air in your house during the day and to draw cool air inside at
night.
Let some of that air blow on you too!
OTHER HOUSE TIPS:
Turn
off and unplug any appliances not in use which may be giving off
heat.
This might include your computer, your television set, and
lamps with
little power boxes. If you can feel any heat coming from a
device,
unplug it. Don’t turn on any lights unless you need
them, and if you
do, use LED lamps. Let kitchen and bath exhaust
fans vent
hot air to the outside. Run your dishwasher at night.
WHAT TO
WEAR:
Wear loose fitting clothing made with comfortable
materials.
Experts often recommend cotton or linen for hot weather. But
you might
also try some of the new fitness clothing which wicks moisture away
from the body. Try to avoid outside activity, especially
during the
hottest part of the day, but if you must, wear light colors, put on a
hat, and try to stay in the shade. Now is the time to get
your hair
cut short and let it hang loose so as not to hold in any extra heat
around your head.
SLEEPING:
Try to figure out some ways for
the whole family to sleep on the first floor during a heat wave even if
the bedrooms are on the second floor. The floor is probably
the
coolest spot if you can figure out a way to cushion your body without
also making it hotter.
MEALS:
Eat lightly with an emphasis on
foods which have high water content. Fruits and salads fill
the bill
here. Your body creates heat when digesting protein, so stay
away from
those big hot meals. If you need to cook, use the microwave
or an
outside grill, not your oven. This might be the perfect time
to
splurge on carry-out from a favorite restaurant or convenience food
from the supermarket.
FLUIDS:
Dehydration can easily accompany
high temperatures and this is where the elderly and the very young
sometimes get into trouble with heat related problems. If you
take
only one piece of information away from these hints, take this one:
Drink water and drink it all day long. Do not drink anything
with
alcohol or caffeine in it. These both have a diuretic effect
on the
body, and may leave you dehydrated.
BE FLEXIBLE:
Postpone
necessary heat generating activities until temperatures are at their
lowest: generally from four to seven AM. That may be too
ambitious but
you can still try to time your chores for morning or evening.
Be as
lazy as you can, and if you are home, consider a siesta from 3-4 PM
which is when the daily temperature generally peaks. If
“lazy” freaks
you out, there are still productive things you can do all while being a
couch potato. Here are a few examples: get an early
start on your
annual holiday letter, catch up on e-mail, sort out photographs, pay
your bills, plan and make arrangements for your next vacation. Or
telephone friends, shop on the internet, read a book, or research a big
purchase.
PERSONAL COMFORT:
If possible, spend time where it
is air conditioned or known to be cool. Typical places are
movie
theaters, malls, libraries, and restaurants. Go swimming or
try
hanging out under a big shade tree. Some people swear by
their
personal water-spritzing bottles and even a little hand fan can bring
some relief. Making a hand fan is a perfect small art project
for the
kids on a hot day. In your own home, go barefoot and put cold
things
next to your body like wrapped frozen gel packs, or cold, wet
washcloths. Take a seriously frigid shower; make sure you wet
your
hair too. Your young children might enjoy an afternoon in the
tub with
cool water and some appropriate toys.
CHECK ON OTHERS:
While we
may have little energy during very hot weather, find enough to check on
your elderly neighbors and relatives to make sure that they are all
right and drinking enough fluids.
POSITIVE ATTITUDE:
Try not to
be frustrated by what you can’t do or how uncomfortable you
are. Here
is why: Heat waves don’t last. For now, you have a
perfect excuse to
be a slacker and perhaps even the inspiration to make some changes in
your life. Take full advantage of the situation.
Before you know it,
winter will be on its way and you will be looking for tips on how to
stay warm.
Linda Byard
More useful and interesting articles from Linda Byard:
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in the UK Take your life in your hands
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