Living in Florida is not for the faint at heart when it comes to heat and humidity. It's only July and we have already hit triple digit temperatures and have had heat warnings issued.
The fact that our first heat warning of the year came on a day when we hit 110 degrees tells you just how hot it gets. We had already been in the triple digits for several days but didn't get a warning until we hit 110 degrees.
So just how do you beat the heat when you don't have air conditioning? Over the years I have learned a few tips and tricks to keep cool.
Before we jump into how to keep cool, let's go over some symptoms to watch out for when the temperatures rise.
Heat Illness is extremely dangerous and can happen to anyone.
Signs and Symptoms of Heat Strokes and Heat Exhaustion
Heat Stroke Symptoms
High Body Temperature 103 degrees or higher
Hot, red, dry, damp skin
Fast, strong pulse
Headache
Dizziness
Nausea
Confusion
Passing out ( losing consciousness)
What to Do
Call 911 immediately ( heat stroke is a medical emergency)
Move person to a cooler place
Help lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths/ cool bath
Do not give person anything to drink
Heat Exhaustion Symptoms
Heavy sweating
Cold, pale, clammy, skin
Fast, weak pulse
Nausea/ Vomiting
Muscle cramps
Tiredness/ Weakness
Dizziness
Headache
Fainting
What to Do
Move to a cooler place
Loosen clothes
Put cool, wet cloths on your body or take a cool bath
Sip water
Seek Medical Attention Right Away If:
You are throwing up
Your symptoms get worse
Symptoms last longer than 1 hour
Research from the CDC if you want to learn more about heat Illness
There are a few ways to keep your cool when you don't have air conditioning and today I will be sharing some of my tried and true methods that keep me cool throughout the Summer.
Hydrate
Staying hydrated should be first on everyone’s list. Drinking water is great but I'll be honest with you when we hit triple digits in Florida I have to reach for the Gatorade. Gatorade rehydrates and replenishes what my body needs quickly.
Fans
I know most people will tell you to stay indoors which is great advice, however if you live in a mobile home ( metal) it tends to be hotter inside than outside at times. Open windows and place fans in the windowsill. If you have more than one window in the room, place one fan backwards to pull heat out of the room and the other fan forward in the other windowsill to pull fresh air inside. If there's even a little bit of a breeze head outside under a covered porch or umbrella ( don't forget to take your water) and sit and enjoy the breeze. Keep the top of your windows covered with a valance to block the sunlight at the top of windows and reduce the amount of heat you let in. Be sure the valance is short enough that it doesn't get pulled into the fans.
Ice Packs
You heard me right. Keep ice packs in the freezer at all times. During the hottest part of the day you can use an ice pack to cool yourself down.
Honestly I always have ice packs in the freezer because I have a tendency to be clumsy from time to time and I like to be prepared if I need an ice pack to bring down swelling.
My favorite way to use the ice packs is by breaking out my denim overalls. I honestly believe overalls are the most comfortable clothes you can own but that's a different article.
My overalls have a big pocket across the front and I can take an ice pack and place it in the oversized pocket across the chest of the overalls to cool me down ( hands free) and the denim acts as a bumper to keep me from damaging my skin with the ice pack.
Freezing wash rags is also a go-to cool down trick. Super easy just wet a wash rag with cold water, fold it and place it in the freezer. When I need to cool down I grab a frozen rag out of the freezer, unfold it and place it on the back of my neck.
Don't Move Around
Seriously when the heat kicks up try not to move around unless you absolutely have to.
This is a great reason to break out a good book or binge your favorite shows.
Swimming / Cold Shower
If you have access to a pool to cool down, great. If you don't you can always jump into a cool/ cold shower to bring your body temperature down. A great way to cool down is to jump into a cold shower fully clothed, completely soaking your clothes with cold water and then sitting in front of the fan.
Seek Shelter
If at all possible, you can head out somewhere that has air conditioning even if it's only for a few hours. Shopping, library, friends, family, restaurants, museum, etc.
What are some of your tips for keeping cool? Let me know in the comments.
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