Back in the day when things got hot, our ancestors might have moved to higher elevations where it’s cooler and there is more breeze, they might have migrated north following the buffalo migration, or they might have built earthen houses or partial underground structures to beat the heat.
Nowadays, it isn’t as easy to pick up everything and move—and many don’t live in traditional homes designed to work with the earth.
If you’re without air conditioning this summer, try these 9 ways to keep yourself a little more comfortable and safe from the dangers of overheating.
- Set up fans correctly: When it’s hot outside, push the warm air away from your house and out of the window. Don’t push the warm air into the house from outside. Then in the evenings when the outside might cool down, push the cool air into the house. The more you’re able to circulate air the better.
- Take the cooking outdoors: Turn off that indoor oven, toaster, microwave and fire up that outside grill. Even large appliances like washers and dryers give off heat, so hold off on running appliances until evenings.
- Enjoy an iced treat: Popsicles, frozen yogurt, and snow cones are good for cooling down the body. But stay away from high-calorie or high-sugar frozen treats as they kick start your metabolism, causing your body temperature to rise.
- Stay hydrated: Drink a lot of water. Not so much sugary beverages. They boost your metabolism and warm your body.
- Create a homemade cool ocean breeze: Set a bowl of ice in front of a fan and run the fan in your direction.
- Place cold washcloths on key parts of your body: Around your neck, under your armpits, or in your groin are areas where large blood vessels are close to the skin’s surface, cooling you down more quickly.
- Block windows that receive direct sunlight: When that sun beams down through the windows, the more you can block it out, the better. To do that, hang up dark-colored blankets or sheets to absorb more heat.
- Use energy efficient light bulbs: Old-school incandescent light bulbs emit much more heat than LEDs. Although an incandescent light bulb doesn’t raise the temperature of a large room much, for smaller rooms it could make a tangible difference.
- Find a local cooling center: In extreme heat, most states open cooling centers to help individuals without access to air conditioning. Find the local cooling centers in your state.
Let’s also remember to check on friends, family, and neighbors during the heat, especially elders or those with a disability. As you check on others, make sure someone is checking on you too!
As a final note, if you ever experience any of these symptoms of heat-related illnesses, seek medical care right away.
