Here in England, we're preparing for some of the hottest days ever. In many parts of the world, the heat is rising. Young or old, everybody wants to keep themselves cool during a heatwave. The main risks from the heat are dehydration, overheating, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Here is a list of twelve easy ways to protect yourself and those who are vulnerable—seriously ill, young children or elderly people around you.
1. Stay out of the sun and remain indoors during the hottest part of the day (11am and 3pm).
2. Drink plenty of fluid such as water and fruit juice, these will help you stay hydrated. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol which can leave you more dehydrated than before.
3. When the sun is blazing, keep your windows closed and pull down the shades, using reflective material outside the windows to keep rays at bay. This action can reduce the amount of heat that passes into your home by as much as 45 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Open windows at night when the air is cooler.
1. Stay out of the sun and remain indoors during the hottest part of the day (11am and 3pm).
2. Drink plenty of fluid such as water and fruit juice, these will help you stay hydrated. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol which can leave you more dehydrated than before.
3. When the sun is blazing, keep your windows closed and pull down the shades, using reflective material outside the windows to keep rays at bay. This action can reduce the amount of heat that passes into your home by as much as 45 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Open windows at night when the air is cooler.
4. Try a desert trick. When the air outside is dry and cooler than the air inside, hang a damp sheet in an open window. That's what they do in in US's Death Valley. Incoming breezes are cooled by the evaporating water.
5. Have cool baths or showers regularly to help regulate your body temperature and reduce the risk of overheating.
6. Plan ahead for supplies in your home, including as food, water and any medication you need, ensuring you don't have to leave your home for necessities
7. Retreat to the coolest room in the house when things get too hot.
8. Wear lightweight, loose lifting and light-colored clothing to reflect heat and sunlight and a hat if you go outside.
9. Check up on friends, relatives and neighbors who may be less able to look after themselves. A vulnerable person could collapse from heatstroke. It only takes a minute to knock on someone's door or give them a quick call. You could save someone's life.
10. Assemble a makeshift air conditioner. If it's hot but not humid, place a shallow bowl of ice in front of a fan and enjoy the breeze. As the ice melts, then evaporates, it will cool you off.
11. Do as little as possible. The National Weather Service suggests we schedule strenuous activities for the cooler mornings or just skip it.
12. While you take a cool bath or shower, put your undergarments in the freezer as Marilyn Monroe did in "The Seven Year Itch."
5. Have cool baths or showers regularly to help regulate your body temperature and reduce the risk of overheating.
6. Plan ahead for supplies in your home, including as food, water and any medication you need, ensuring you don't have to leave your home for necessities
7. Retreat to the coolest room in the house when things get too hot.
8. Wear lightweight, loose lifting and light-colored clothing to reflect heat and sunlight and a hat if you go outside.
9. Check up on friends, relatives and neighbors who may be less able to look after themselves. A vulnerable person could collapse from heatstroke. It only takes a minute to knock on someone's door or give them a quick call. You could save someone's life.
10. Assemble a makeshift air conditioner. If it's hot but not humid, place a shallow bowl of ice in front of a fan and enjoy the breeze. As the ice melts, then evaporates, it will cool you off.
11. Do as little as possible. The National Weather Service suggests we schedule strenuous activities for the cooler mornings or just skip it.
12. While you take a cool bath or shower, put your undergarments in the freezer as Marilyn Monroe did in "The Seven Year Itch."
I open all the windows first thing in the morning to let in the cool air, only closing them when the temperature rises. But, where I live in Hertfordshire, England, cool air wafts over the fields with the morning dew.
Living in Australia as a teenager, I suffered heatstroke. I felt dizzy, head-achy and lethargic. Unable to rise from my bed, I slept for days. Back in 1958, we didn't go to the doctor for such things. I eventually recovered, but remained wary of overdoing the sunbathing at the local beach. But, at 16 years, I was at peak fitness. My elderly body wouldn't cope so well now. I'll be taking all of the advice above—well, maybe not the underwear in the freezer. Chuckle.
Living in Australia as a teenager, I suffered heatstroke. I felt dizzy, head-achy and lethargic. Unable to rise from my bed, I slept for days. Back in 1958, we didn't go to the doctor for such things. I eventually recovered, but remained wary of overdoing the sunbathing at the local beach. But, at 16 years, I was at peak fitness. My elderly body wouldn't cope so well now. I'll be taking all of the advice above—well, maybe not the underwear in the freezer. Chuckle.
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