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Summer is my least favorite season. Yup, I know. Lot’s of people think I’m crazy.
But I hate the heat and I despise the humidity. And, living in New England you almost can’t have one without the other.
It’s been a super hot summer this year. A large portion of the United States is battling a summer heat wave. Temperatures are soaring high into the 90’s and even 100’s in some spots. With soaring humidity, it makes for uncomfortable conditions.
I remember one summer day when Carrie was still in high school, we headed over to Six Flags. My girlfriend’s husband had received free passes and we thought it might be a nice way to spend the day.
Well, that day had to be one of the hottest on record. The park was packed – like sardines packed.
We stood in line for over an hour to ride one ride all while guzzling water to stay cool and hydrated. After the ride was over we promptly left. If we had stayed I have no doubt one of us would have suffered from heat exhaustion or worse heat stroke.
Heat related deaths and illnesses like heat stroke are preventable yet many people succumb to extreme heat because they fail to take the necessary precautions.
The CDC recommends the following preventative measures and tips for staying cool and safe.
Table of Contents
Tips To Stay Cool and Beat the Heat When Mercury Rises
Avoid Alcohol and Sugary Drinks
Alcohol and drinks containing large amounts of sugar actually cause you to lose more body fluid. When in doubt stick with water.
Replace Salts and Minerals
Heavy sweating will remove salt and minerals from your body. These items are necessary for your body and must be replaced. Sports drinks can replace the salt and minerals lost through exercise and sweating. However, if you are on a low salt diet, check with your doctor first before consuming sports drinks.
Wear Sun Screen
We are having solar panels installed on the new house in Nottingham. The guys who are doing the install are a testament to the protectiveness of sunscreen. Despite being in the sun all day, on top of roofs no less, they are not that tanned. And you know why? Because they slather 50SPF or more sunscreen all throughout the day.
Baking in the sun is no fun and it’s worse if you end up with a nasty sun burn. Make sure you wear sunscreen and apply it according to the package directions.
Stay Indoors
When the mercury rises sometimes the best thing to do is stay inside where it’s cooler. If you have AC great, you’re probably all set. If you don’t open windows at night, use a window fan to draw cool air into the room. In the morning, shut the windows and close the blinds, shades or curtains to keep the heat from the sun out of the house. Use fans to keep cool during the day.
If it’s terribly hot inside your home, head to the mall or movie theater for a reprise from the heat.
Related: The Best All Natural Bug Spray
Drink Plenty of Fluids
Just when you think you’ve drunk enough, drink some more. During hot weather, you need to increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re already thirsty, just keep drinking throughout the day.
Take A Dip
If you don’t have a pool or a friend or relative with a pool, many communities have local pools, lakes or other water holes you can visit to help keep cool. Make sure you know how to swim when going into a local area. Keep eye on your children and use life vests.
Take A Cool Shower
I remember one summer I had to go to Florida for a conference. It was hotter than hell in Jacksonville. I mean who wants to go to FLA in the summer??
My friend had always told me there were only three temperatures in FLA – hot, hotter, and hottest. It was hottest the week I was there. My other friend wanted to go to the beach and so we headed there and I immediately went into the water to get cooled off. Well, the water was so warm it was completely unrefreshing. So we decided to head to the pool. Guess what? It was like bath water, 90-degree bath water. I ended up going to my room and taking a cold shower. Sometimes its the only thing that works!
Related: Summer’s Most Serious Health Risks
Enjoy An Ice Spa
Relaxing at an Ice-cold water spa helps spread refreshing feeling all over the body, starting from the feet.
To do this at home, simply soak your feet in a half-filled pail with ice cubes and water. Our body radiates heat from the palms of our hands and feet, our ears, and our face, so cooling down any of these parts will eventually cool the entire body.
Don’t Forget Your Hat
I despise the sun beating down on my head so I often wear a big floppy hat or another type of hat when out. It shades your face and keeps the sun from making you feel hotter.
Close It Down
Whether the air conditioner is on or off, keep windows and doors shut if the temperature outside is more than 77 degrees Fahrenheit (most people start to sweat at 78 – personally I think the number is closer to 75). Whenever the outside air is hotter than the inside air, opening a window invites heat to creep in.
