People from the "hotter" regions, how do you deal with the heat?
People from the "hotter" regions, how do you deal with the heat?
I am from Eastern Europe and this is the hottest summer on my memory. For at least 3 consecutive years the heat is breaking all records.
This stuff is unbearable, I can't even play video games on my laptop, because it warms up very fast and the keyboard becomes uncomfortable for me to use.
So, could you please share any useful tips on how do you survive the summer?
Indian here, so experienced with hot climate.
- Wear loose cotton clothes (long-sleeved if stepping out in the hot sun)
- Keep yourself hydrated.
- Avoid soft/ aerated drinks/ soda & coffee as they'll dehydrate you. Stick to cool water, ice chips, fresh lemonade made with water, fresh fruit juices, melons, spinach-cucumber-onion-tomato salads, yoghurt,
- Eat light.
- Stick to well-ventilated rooms with good air-circulation (fans help)
- Cold water showers to cool down
- Sweating is good. It'll cool you down. This is also why Indians eat spicy food and drink hot tea even in hottest summer. Get sweaty then take a quick cold-water rinse.
- If you have to step outside in the hot sun, umbrella, hats, caps etc are your friends.
- Wet towel on the back of the neck for a quick cool down.
ETA: When it gets so hot that we lose our appetite, then our go-to meal is to mix up cooled cooked rice with unsweetened yoghurt and a pinch of salt. its variously called yoghurt rice/ curd rice/ thayir saadam / dahi bhaath / dahi chaawal . This is an easy to make & easy to diges meal that is guaranteed to cool a person down.
thayir = dahi = curd = yoghurt
saada = bhaath = chaawal = cooked riceGood luck.
North africa here, we are between air conditioning, fans, drink water and pray it ends fastly, in my country our problem is more energetical, more demand less production.
I do construction work in Alabama. I basically bitch and complain all summer long and hate every second of it. There's no relief unless you're in the AC. I've been thinking of ordering a liquid cooled vest actually. They look weird but I'll try anything. The humidity here is killer. Sweating doesn't help like it does in dry climates. Every time I walk outside my body shuts down and I have literally no energy. I think i had a heat stroke last summer.
If someone above me tells me to go work outside all day and doesn't offer me a substantial amount of money, I tell them to go fuck themselves. It isn't worth it.
AZ here, Get a cheap low power desktop for work shit, it will heat up less and you'll be able to ventilate it better.
Otherwise, a/c, thermal curtains, insulated reflector layer in front of that, make sure your weather seals on your doors are good. Drink water all the time, carry water with you all the time. Good luck with all the heatwaves and welcome to the club.
Sleep during mid-day
Brazilian here, to be fair I've read so many good tricks here that I am not sure what I have to contribute, but yeah, light clothes with bright colours or white, don't dress dark as your clothes you heat up. No shoes if you can, but also not barefeet lol sandals and flip flops havaianas styles. If you live close to the beach obviously go take a swim, otherwise swimming pool or AC at home or car or go to store random stores with AC too lol. Drink cold stuff, keep hydrated. Fans, and cold shower.
Houses are built differently in hot areas. Very few windows facing south. Shutters on all windows. All windows deeply recessed. Channel the wind, ie have a deep through channel that spans across the house so any pressure differential causes air to exchange. Tiled floors. No/low insulation.
In Northern Europe, we live in sweat boxes designed for letting in maximum light and keeping heat inside the house.
In the southern US we have air conditioning everywhere. People avoid going outside except for very early or late in the day when the sun isn't on you. I try to get any yard work or anything outside down before 10am and avoid going outside the rest of the day.
Yesterday was actually a "nice" day where I'm at because the high was "only" 34C. People were outside enjoying it, but still avoided the sun and were mostly out in the morning and afternoon in shaded areas.
If AC isnt an option, the way Ive gotten through summers without is opening one window on one side of the building, then another one on the opposite side. Then point a box fan facing outward of one window, and do your best to seal the gaps with some cardboard or whatever you have. This will create negative pressure in the building, drawing in a bunch of air from the opposite window.
The one thing I don't see mentioned enough for keeping your apartment cool is to close all windows and draw all curtains during the day and open them when the temperature outside is lower than that inside (normally ~an hour after sunset).
Heat reflects off all surface, so it's not just about keeping light out.
Blinds on the outside of your windows help significantly too.
If the dew point is favorable at least, then drinking Hot Coffee and let myself sweat in front of an Electric Fan. If it is very humid, Ice on neck or taking a cold shower.
If I had to go outside or Air conditioning at the office broke, then I'd wear light clothing where sweat is easier to evaporate
Otherwise, I'd just use air conditioning and eat up the electricity cost, fuck this weather.
This stuff is unbearable, I can’t even play video games on my laptop, because it warms up very fast and the keyboard becomes uncomfortable for me to use.
There's a lot of good advice in here but I haven't seen anyone tell you to just reduce the amount of heat being generated in your home. Almost every plugged in electrical device in your home is generating some amount of heat. Esp. if they're in use.
So my suggestion to you is to flip off the power-strip or unplug unnecessary devices, and find something else to occupy your time. The consoles, PCs, the tv itself, they're all hungry devices that generate a lot of heat. Those fans people are telling you to use? They generate heat too... so while I'm not saying, "don't use a fan to stay cool", I am saying, "don't fill your home with running fans in rooms you aren't in".
No mention of wet headcloths and neckerchiefs here! Get some water on that neckerchief and it’ll drip down the hotter parts of your body. A wet headcloth loosely draped under a hat or headband catches the wind and sends evaporative cooling down your back, and gives you cooler air to breathe.
There’s a reason why deserts around the world are filled with garments like the keffiyeh, pashmina, shemagh, pañuelo, and cowboy scarf. I’ve spent a lot of time in the outdoors with a kufiya from the Hirbawi factory in Palestine, they’re well-made and amazingly handy. Their story is worth reading at http://www.hirbawi.ps .
When I lived in a top floor apartment in Melbourne, where it regularly hit 40°C without any air-conditioning (still unsure how that was and is legal to rent out), I would use a spray bottle of water and a fan to evaporatively cool myself, cold showers to lower my body heat and trips to an air-conditioned space like the cinema or shopping centre during the worst of it.
When the weather hits 40⁰ around here I might head to the cinema. They're usually really well temperature controlled, dark and allows you to get out of the sun when it's at its height. Nights when it doesn't cool down are harder.
Avoid being out in the midday sun. If you do, try to walk in the shade as much as possible.
If your windows have external shades close them down when the sun is hitting that side of the house/appartment so that the heating up of objects from the sunlight happens outside not inside.
Wear shorts/skirts and loose clothes of thin textites that don't retain much heat (such as cotton).
If you're going to be out for long periods, bring water, ideally cold water.
Sure, if you have AC or, even better, a swiming pool, it's a lot easier to keep cool, but these suggestions will work even for those who can't afford those things.
Always humid heat, days above 35 degrees have increased a lot. Have to use an AC all summer long... Prayers to those who have to work outside.
Ceiling fans should be set to warm weather mode (there should be a switch on the base which changes the direction of spin), you want them to
pull hot air up (so the lower edge is the leading side)push cool air down, had it backwardsCotton/baggy clothes: cotton loses all insulation properties when wet so its nice on a hot day, baggy clothes are generally more breathable
Self-misters are fine, but do not use humidifiers, lower humidity = faster sweat evaporation = cooler you
Drinks w/ ice and/or icecream: cold stuff inside your body will cool you down
Avoid the outside at 1-2pm: this is usually the hottest part of the day
For your laptop: buy a desk fan and point it right at your laptop, has the bonus of cooling you down too
Use fans. Air blowing on you will make you feel cooler. If you don't have air conditioning some houses can benefit from one fan blowing inwards from the cool/shady side of the house and one fan blowing outwards on the hot/sunny side of the house.
Try to do outdoor things early in the morning or late in the evening. If you need to be outdoors during the hottest parts of the day stay in the shade, wear sunscreen, move more slowly, drink plenty of water.
Here's what I do, dampen a towel and put it in the freezer. Once the towel is good and cold wear it like a cape. Looks kinda stupid but you'll stay cool.
I'm from eastern europe too, I feel like I almost died from the august 2020 heat, this year I couldn't belive my eyes seeing 37°C on the weather app last week(and continues to rise). The hail mary was fans for me, but air conditioning is something that will get harder to live without as years roll by and the temperature increases. I know I'm not the intended audience, but what worked for me was spending more time in rooms where the sun doesn't hit as much(for me it's the bathroom), standing near walls(I noticed they don't catch a lot of heat and they are not too cold to lean on), every few hours try to splash some water on your face and neck and maybe(I don't know if this works, didn't try it) towels that are wet and were left a bit in the fridge(I'd avise much caution with temperature change to avoid termic shock, for the towel too not be too cold and the body too warm). Hydrate and avoid going outside mid day as much as possible. Summer gets easier when you work in an air conditioned office, but until then, good luck and drink water.
I need AC for about 6 months out of the year (used to be three, maybe three and half) here in the east/south US. The humidity is so bad it makes 90F seem like 110F and even the shade won't cool you down and it drops very little when the sun goes down.
I'm replying because my electrical panel is being replaced right now and I have no power (the router is on a batt backup)...it heated up in here and I'm able to psychologically deal with it for now....if the installation goes south and I'll be without power for more than a few hours I'll take the cat and head to my sister's place :)
If you don’t have air conditioning you can create a shitty version using a bucket of water, a towel and a fan. Just have the towel wick up the water and lay it over the fan.
I'm late to this party because I'm on the other side of the planet in a sub-tropical climate. I agree with the commenter from India and want to add:
• if you have a cotton cap / beanie / soft hat, get it out Wet it, wring it out, and put it in your freezer in roughly the right shape for your head. Use whatever is in the freezer to shape it, then let it freeze. Remove from freezer, put it in your head, and thank me for the brief but blessed relief.
• Wear a light cotton long sleeve top. Wet the sleeves and stand or sit in front of a fan or in a breezy spit in the shade. It's like air conditioning for your skin.
• Wet your head for instant relief. Your wet hair will help keep you cool for longer.
• Plan your day around the heat. If you have to go out, do it as early in the day as you can to avoid the heat. Stay in the shade as much as possible, but somewhere with good air flow
In the Philippines, Filipinos usually go to malls for free air-conditioning since electric bills here in the country is not very friendly in terms of the costs. If you are lucky enough to be in the middle class, running the AC during afternoon for some hours is enough already.
I live in the desert so its usually a dry heat so I get to use a evaporative/swamp cooler. It uses way less electricity than the AC. I just have to crack open a few windows across the house and turn on a fan in the hallway and it gets quite cool and doesn't get too humid inside. It hit 110ºF (43ºC) today and it never got above 72ºF (22ºC) inside.
Drink lots of cold water. Back in May I almost got a heat stroke because I was drinking room temperature water and hot tea @ 4pm when it is the hottest. Stop drinking anything hot. If tap water is warm fill up buckets of water previous night for bathing. Leave those buckets open in the bathroom with windows open to allow water to cool overnight. Of course you also need air-conditioning and ceiling fans. Additionally, use blackout curtains on windows, keep doors and windows closed so that rooms don't become as hot as outside. FYI where I live summer temperatures are 45 deg C, and this is all part of what I do to deal with the heat.
Barcelona A/C all the day at 24C (25C or 26C when sleeping). However to me it's been always hot here. So I'm not particularly suffering this summer more than the others.
In FL: Air conditioning.
In HI: Breezes, fans.
I stay inside with AC on as much as I can for June, July, and August. I know many homes in Europe don't have AC, but if we didn't have it here, we would likely have very high heat-related death rates. It has been 100-104°F (38-40°C) almost every day for the past 6 weeks. And at night, it only gets as low as 80°F (26.5°C). It's brutal. So AC is the answer.
But from mid September through the end of May, we can be outside almost the whole time. There's the occasional cold snap in winter, but on a regular day, it can be as warm as 80°F (26.5°C) in December and January.
I’ve discovered that if I have one little air conditioned place I can go, then I don’t actually need to be in it for it to be a relief.
Just knowing that after this day in the year I’ll have a place to cool off really helps.
Ever since I started riding (motorcycles) I don't even really notice it anymore. Anything less hot than "armored jacket and helmet under the sun" just doesn't register as hot anymore
People have already mentioned wet towels on your neck but I would add, if you can, cold wraps for your legs: wet towels around your calves.
I live with no AC. First thing, all windows get blocked with blackout curtains or whatever you can find. Wear loose cool clothes. I like to wear linen. At night and early morning/dusk, open the windows and doors (if applicable) to get the cool air flowing through your place. If you can, keep them open all night and seal them up once the sun comes up. Use a fan to blow directly on you. Even when it's hot, that air flow is a life saver. Misting yourself and standing in a fan is a very effective way of keeping yourself cool. All your physical labor chores you're going to want completed early in the day or after the sun goes down.
As for your laptop, maybe pointing a desk fan at the keyboard may help?
Without HVAC (which I'm assuming is the case) your options are limited. I would look into fans and evaporative coolers.
There are also freestanding compression-based units that have you run tubes out the window, but avoid single tube models!
Midwestern US here, it's been getting hotter and some years our AC just stopped working. I keep my fan turned on almost 24/7 as I can't breathe well without it on and recently I got blackout curtains with angled curtain rods. Keeps my room much cooler than a blanket over the window
I'm in Phoenix. It was 112°f here today. It's hot as balls.
However, I'm immensely more comfortable in this heat than I was when visiting Germany last summer when it was in the high 70's. The difference is the humidity. I was constantly sweating, soaking everything while I was over there. Here? I get a little sweaty at 100°, sometimes. Our power infrastructure is pretty solid, so lots of air conditioner.
I haven’t seen anyone recommend this yet but for your body itself, try using peppermint castille soap. There’s a brand here called dr.bronners, not sure if you have it in your area but you might be able to find it on Amazon. Really helps keep skin cool, sometimes I’ll just bathe my feet in it if I’ve already showered and just need to cool off a bit.
Also lose the socks and general clothing if you’re at home. A wet rag over a fan may help as well. Drink lots and lots of water. Horror movies also sometimes give me a bit of a chill! Good luck!
I'm from central Italy, in my city temperatures regularly reach 40 degrees in August. With the recent heatwave we reached it in mid July, I cope by being indoors and locking myself in with AC on and drinking ice cold water, and when I can (and I fortunately can afford so) going on vacation in colder, still close, places, something like Abruzzo or Molise if you know central Italy.
Air conditioning and swimming pools
You can make a simple a.c. by putting a rack with wet towels in front of a fan, tho it loses effect once the humidity in you house gets higher.
San Diegan here. Beach. That’s what we all do. Pool works too. And of course AC.
Get as much cold air inside overnight as possible then close all the doors and windows a little after sunrise. If your house is well insulated it’ll keep it relatively cool until after lunch. Also, keep the blinds closed on the side of the house actively getting sun.
Light weight or moisture wicking clothes.
Fans. Lots of them.
Damp washcloth on your neck or a spray bottle to mist yourself. If you want to step that up, put the washcloth in the freezer for a bit then wipe your face/neck down.
If you have a basement, spend time on it. It's much, much cooler below ground. The earth is a great insulator.
Go out to movie theaters, malls, or other public spaces that have AC. Visit public pools, beaches, etc.
You want to get some nice blackout thermal curtains for any windows facing south. You might actually need 2 sets of curtains to fully block the sun. I've noticed a big difference this year since I added a 2nd thermal curtain on top of the 1 I had. Unfortunately that only helps so much and as long as it's unbearably hot outside you're going to see the heat increase inside as the day goes on. At night open all of your windows and run fans to get as much airflow as possible while it's cooler outside. In the morning close your windows the minute the outside temperature is the same as the inside temperature. As long as it's cooler outside, the windows should be open.
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Air conditioners are the norm here so it is no problem indoor, and outdoor well we were born in it molded by it
External keyboard and mouse on laptop.
If you're without an ac in Europe I highly suggest getting a simple window unit for your room. They are easy to install. Be sure to seal your door so the air doesn't escape. Portable ac units are known to be very inefficient, be wary of those. Cold showers help in extreme circumstances. Block all sources of light. Blackout curtain or just some covers over the windows. Keep humidity below 60% if you can, dehumidifiers will help but larger ones will rack up your electric bill quick.
It feels pretty good to dip your hands or feet in a bowl of ice water after being outside
a bajillion fans
Cooling your feet and legs is a great way to cool your body. So for sure wear shirts, but also sandals/flipflops can help you lose a little heat
Air conditioner... After moving to Europe I'm amazed by how people are so miserable and complaining every day for 1 to 2 months, then just repeat it over and over every year.
Enjoy it while it lasts. Winter is coming soon enough and you'll have shitty weather again for the next 10 months.
I live in Florida and while this summer has been unusually hot.. it's not that bad. You just get used to the heat. Also make sure you have good A/C in your home & car lol