From the article: Cooling Beverages to Beat the Blistering Heat
Share Post: How do you keep yourself comfortable and safe when temperatures are on the rise? Please share cooling tips you use to avoid dehydration or heat exhaustion. Share Cooling Tips
Cool Tips from Before Air Conditioning
- When we were kids back in the 1950's, almost no-one had air conditioning. The town movie theater was usually the only "air" to be found. On super-hot nights, we'd get a clean sheet wet in the bathtub and then wring it out well. We'd put a wet sheet over us and direct a fan at the bed -- instant "evaporation cooler". The trick was to get cool enough to fall asleep. If it's safe to do so in your neighborhood these days, sleeping on the porch was also a popular way to get cool back in the day. We'd put mattresses on a screened porch and all sleep outside under light sheets. It's a bit noisy in the morning, but the cooler night air can give great relief. Whenever I feel sorry for myself now on hot days, I remember back when our homes, our schools, our work-places and our cars were all NOT air conditioned. We're quite blessed these days, relatively speaking. Remembering those days makes the heat more tolerable somehow. It's a way to cool the mind of self-pity.
- —Guest Jean V
Cool with Shitali Prnayama
- Breathe air in with mouth and exhale through the nose. Method can be learned from any website. (Note from Guide: How To Practice Yoga Cooling Breath, Shitali Pranayama, at http://yoga.about.com/od/breathing/a/shitali.htm - And good luck, I cannot curl my tongue.)
- —Guest dalsukh
Keep the Air Moving Around You
- One way that I tolerate the heat is by keeping the air circulating. Even if you have air conditioning in your home it helps to leave ceiling fans on. If you don't have air conditioning you can always try taking a cold shower, and leave your hair wet when you're finished. I also avoid going outside between the hours of noon and 3:00 p.m. These peak hours are when you are most likely to get sunburned. I always wear sunscreen and take water with me wherever I go.
- —khayesrn
Air Conditioning!
- When our area is having a heat wave, we pretend it is a blizzard. We stay in our air-conditioned den and watch movies all day long!
- —Guest yolanda
Neck cooler
- I really like the magic crystal neck coolers for helping to keep comfortable in the heat, when walking or just lounging.
- —Guest WB
Cool Cloth on Wrists
- When I feel overheated, I drink water, then I place a cool cloth on each of my wrists. Instant relief!
- —Guest Connie G.
