Heat's Here! What's your "stay cool" hack?
Posted by Thumper1k92@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 253 comments
East Coast of US, it's getting hot out there and looks like a rough summer. What's everyone's "stay cool" tip? I added some electrolyte packets to my day bag and am wearing a dorky sun hat.
JustPassingThru4Ever@reddit
Are you ready? It’s been in the 90’s and my electric bill was in the $40’s! I don’t Cook a lot during summer rather eat salads, tuna dishes, fruit, etc. You can also purchase preboiled eggs! And precooked foods.
JustPassingThru4Ever@reddit
PS I keep extra bottles ready and alternate them!
JustPassingThru4Ever@reddit
I use a fan with a frozen bottle of Ice sitting on a stool in front of it in my bedroom where I do most of my work anyway! It works! It’s usually pointed in my direction.
Penultimate_Taco@reddit
Get nekkid
Express_Platypus1673@reddit
Sleep in a hammock.
Lived in Brazil for years and when it got over 90° sleeping in a hammock was the only way handle the heat.
You get an air current on all sides of you.
Junkyard_DrCrash@reddit
Cover south (and southwest / southeast) facing windows with aluminium foil, shiny side out.
Works well indoors, but even better on the outside.
Doesn't have to be perfect, leave edge gaps to get some natural light in.
If you cover a window-sized piece of cardboard with aluminium foil, it's easy to reuse / remove at night
1sttime-longtime@reddit
Not a hack but: Year round fitness. Hydrate. Back off the booze and moderate the caffeine.
Live life. Its not Tucson hot. lightweight clothing, no cotton.
Sun hats aren't a bad idea, and neither is washing your face every time you wash your hands... no need to towel off.
Old_Dragonfruit6952@reddit
Loose clothing
mule_roany_mare@reddit
Ever notice how 65 degrees is balmy & warm coming out of winter, but that same 65 degrees will have you shivering & cold coming out of summer?
Your body has some ability to acclimate. The very first step to managing heat is to not overdose on AC & prevent yourself from acclimating to the season you are actually in. If you are cold or need to sleep under a blanket you have gone too far.
After that avoid cotton wherever possible & embrace linen wherever possible. Fabrics that dry slowly are hell in heat & humidity.
... This post reminded me I need to plug my ACs in & make sure they are working...
Different-Bear3705@reddit
My foreman brings us squelcher popsicles every few hours on the rail tracks
greenCamouflage@reddit
Walk around your house naked
bakedjennett@reddit
Look up how to make a swamp cooler out of a Home Depot bucket. It’ll save your sleep
SlowButABro@reddit
Since OP is asking about the East Coast, adding humidity only makes us hotter. "As this map shows, evaporative coolers work best in the dry areas of the United States (red areas marked A) and can work somewhat in the blue areas marked B. In the humid eastern U.S., normal air conditioners must be used."
https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/evaporative-coolers-work-best-dry-areas-us-area-a
bakedjennett@reddit
I mean I’m solidly in the white area and it definitely helped. Probably works better in the red for sure, but it definitely didn’t make me hotter.
CommanderMeiloorun23@reddit
How do you make a swamp cooler out of a Home Depot bucket?
bakedjennett@reddit
https://youtu.be/aHbQYajfGqM?si=mUq0kmsfUr-A1duL
stalkermuch@reddit
Went down a deep rabbit hole
Chance_Contract1291@reddit
They said look it up! Do we have to do EVERYTHING for you?!!
DragonAteMyHomework@reddit
What a silly question. The answer is clearly "yes."
SlowButABro@reddit
I live in the south and never use air conditioner. My secret is a large metal-bladed finger-chopping fan I got at Walmart. That usually does it for me, but if I'm still hot I take a shower.
Iphonebiter@reddit
I do like those stupid fair give aways, it’s a cooling towel you get wet and then wear, I have 3 or 4 from just going to local events. You do have to get it wet often but it does its job
Thumper1k92@reddit (OP)
Agreed. They work a treat. I've got a few of them from local stuff as well
4Wonderwoman@reddit
Any suggestions on keeping our rescue husky cool if we have power outages in Houston this summer?
0netonwonton@reddit
Travel at night sleep during the day. Loose fitting light linen like they do in the middle east?
Jaynelovesherpetboy@reddit
If you have no a.c., close your windows from sun up to sun down, open them at night. Cover your windows with black out curtains. It will be between 5 and ten degrees cooler than outside. Cool showers and light, breathable clothing. A wet hand towel on the back of the neck helps those who suffer heat sickness. If you can invest in heat reducing window tint, found at hardware stores. that will also help reduce inside temperatures.
wheeeeeeeeeeesss@reddit
I put up some heat reducing tinted film this morning and my house feels ten degrees cooler. It is glorious.
BigJSunshine@reddit
What brand?
wheeeeeeeeeeesss@reddit
Gila privacy film.
Thebigfreeman@reddit
I thought white curtains would reflect the heat, versus black which would absorb/bring the heat?
My reasoning come from wearing white t-shirts versus black over summer - i don't have anything to back this up though.
Jaynelovesherpetboy@reddit
Black out curtains tend to have a white liner built-in that makes the curtain block more light. They come in many different colors. "Black out" is what they do to the light coming in. Sorry for any confusion.
goldgrae@reddit
Curtains outside the house work even better. I put up large curtains outside west facing sliding glass doors with tension rods (there are kits now with vertical tension rods supporting a horizontal rod, which was a much easier and reversible install with my stucco eaves).
PeachAgreeable9536@reddit
We had a car wrap company make vinyl clings for our windows and sliding glass doors. The vinyl looks like horizontal slats for ruladens (rolling shutters). Besides keeping the house cooler, people can't see in during the day and the birds don't fly into the glass.
goldgrae@reddit
Neat idea!
PeachAgreeable9536@reddit
Thank you, we really like them.
DragonAteMyHomework@reddit
We've added foam insulating panels to the windows that let in the most heat in our house. Made some handles out of rope so they pop out easy to air out the room later. We also have a whole house fan that we turn on in the evenings and first thing in the morning, but it's too loud to run overnight.
Our other big thing is to use the ac as little as possible so that we're more adapted to the local climate. We do the same with the heater in winter. We use fans far more than the ac.
Ruthless4u@reddit
We hide in our basement
It averages 12 degrees cooler
Warm_Ad3776@reddit
No basements where I live (flooding risk)
Earthling_Like_You@reddit
If the AC is out?
Dish tub of cool water for the feet.
Large icepacks for the body.
Fan with a bucket of cold water in front of it.
Early-Light-864@reddit
Cool water is the winner.
You can get hypothermia in 90+ degree water. It's a really efficient heat sink.
Warm_Ad3776@reddit
Yes in texas our pool is already so warm that it’s not refreshing. We do have a chiller that we can turn on when needed
Spare_Town6161@reddit
AC out is a vulnerability many people are not prepared for. I always hear the advice "just stay in AC". Given the state of most electrical grids and their susceptibility to failure, having some backup power source is a solid plan. Climate change is only going to cause longer and hotter heat days, stressing electrical grids that haven't seen the demands we will need to put them through.
Warm_Ad3776@reddit
I live in texas and my power has been out so many times. It goes out at the hint of a storm so roughly every 2weeks It was out for 30 hours on Feb of 2021. A generator is a necessity here
justalilblowby@reddit
The "stressing electrical grids" is what I fail to understand about battery driven cars, given the sheer amount of fuel used to get hold of the rare earth metals/ore that are used to power these damn cars.
As an aside, I saw a tesla being charged with a gas generator.. I thought, dude, the concept is very clearly lost on you!
account128927192818@reddit
It's great being off grid with efficient heat pumps and lots of solar. It's 95 out right now and I've got the ac set at 68. There's a new heat pump that runs off a solar panel with both DC and ac input.
https://survivalcreation.com/products/eg4-12k-hybrid-solar-mini-split-12000btu-ac-dc-air-conditioner-heat-pump
redcard255@reddit
This is both AC and heat pump? Wow awesome.
DancinWithWolves@reddit
Do you guys not have split systems usually in America?
No_Independence1479@reddit
Central air is the most common type of residential air conditioning installed in the United States. Mine stopped working and I was quoted $6000 to replace the compressor or $8000 to replace the entire outside condenser which was recommended based upon the unit being 9 years old. I was already intrigued by mini splits after several trips to Europe and noticing that it was the most common type of air conditioning used around the world. After doing a lot of research and quizzing many people about their experience I opted to install two mini splits rather than replace my central air. I have now been using mini splits for a little less than two weeks and I will never have central air again. My house is much more comfortable, oddly, with the thermostat set at a higher temperature, and I'm using less electricity. In total, it cost me about $4000. It could have been cheaper, as I had intended to do the whole installation myself, but back problems forced me to hire a professional to finish the job.
I have only recently learned about a local company that sells a complete kit to run a mini split on solar power. I am contemplating adding one to my bedroom to have a place stay cool during a power loss.
Saloncinx@reddit
Not common at all unless it's a retro fit of an old house that never had central air. But most people would just opt for a $5000 central AC install over several $1200 mini splits for each room. Especially when most homes that don't have central air probably have forced air heating (furnace) so it's easy to tie in central air.
account128927192818@reddit
Central air can be a heat pump too. It already is, just one way.
redcard255@reddit
We do but it's not as common as in say Europe. I'm slowly taking myself off the grid and this unit sounds perfect because I would not need an inverter.
DancinWithWolves@reddit
Yeah I’m in AU and they’re the most common for of AC (and heating) here. Super energy efficient. There’s a company here that’s been making these sort of solar ac units for a few years, so I’m looking at one too.
redcard255@reddit
They are gaining a lot of popularity here in the states. For example, in California you might have one gigantic unit for a big house and it's not very efficient. With units like these, you can have multiple and only use what you need.
This interests me because I have a big house and I'm also interested in solar having already taken my detached garage off the grid.
In the rare event that a major currency like the US dollar were to collapse countries like Greece and Venezuela put emergency taxes on people 's electric bills because everyone needs energy.
account128927192818@reddit
Heat pump = ac. It either pumps heat in or out.
Thumper1k92@reddit (OP)
Definitely, so always good to be prepared with some backup options if you've got a brown out
Play_The_Fool@reddit
Backup A/C as well. Your A/C could be down for repairs or require a full replacement which could be a few hours of downtime or a few days.
bellj1210@reddit
a few hours- you really on need the AC during the day. My backup is going to the library, the office or the movies if it is too hot and i have no AC
nakmuay18@reddit
Table top ice makers are massivly overlooked in my opinion. They are only a few hundred watts on you can run one off a portable powerstation. They can make a ton of ice very quickly. Put a fan behind some ice and you can cool down fast
agent_flounder@reddit
We really aren't all that prepared for lengthy loss of electricity, unfortunately.
About the best I have managed so far is keeping some water bottles in the freezer. My solar generator probably won't be able to run a even a small portable AC unit but it will happily run a small portable fridge that I could keep water in. And there's always the cars.
I guess another thing is when I spend more time outdoors in the heat (safely!) I am able to acclimate and tolerate it better.
Being in better shape and losing weight has helped me tolerate heat better. When your body is hot, your heart has to work harder. So better cardio condition means more "headroom". Make sure you're treating hypertension and other conditions that make it harder to deal with heat.
tipsystatistic@reddit
Meanwhile people have been living SE Asia without electricity for 40,000 years.
Rex_Lee@reddit
This. There are a lot of places in the US, where on a peak hot summer day, you stand a chance of dying if you can't cool off - especially if you are not acclimated to being outside in the heat, are overweight or or older - and even if you are not in those groups, it is going to be really really uncomfortable.
I live near the gulf coast, where hurricanes have knocked out power for hundreds of thousands for weeks at a time, so i have a plan and backup plan to keep a small AC unit running in one room so we can stay cool in that one area.
DancinWithWolves@reddit
I think a small ac you can run in a small isolated space is the best bet. What will you be powering it with? What sort of ac do you plan on using?
WasteMenu78@reddit
The research on human heat physiology shows that evaporative cooling is the best strategy. Soak your clothes, wet your skin, jump in a cold shower and then sit in front of a fan. The more water, the colder the water, and the larger the fan the better. You can run a fan on a pretty modest battery or generator.
deepcoralreefer@reddit
Yes but if you live somewhere with 85-90% humidity evaporative cooling doesn’t work much
WasteMenu78@reddit
Very true. Dehumidifier?
mylifeisathrowaway10@reddit
What I worry about is high wet bulb temperatures. There were a few high wet bulb days last summer that even with working AC were very hard to get through.
Earthling_Like_You@reddit
Or before we had electricity manually fan someone or sit in the cool evening breeze.
Or find a tree near water. Get wet. Sit under the tree.
WasteMenu78@reddit
Haha the only problem with just manually fanning or simply sitting in front of a fan is that it doesn’t cool the air, and combine it with temps over 95 and if you’re not sweating enough the fan will actually increase your internal temp by blowing hotter air into you
Earthling_Like_You@reddit
I was just thinking of what I have seen in movies. Some king sitting on a throne and his servants swinging palm fronds to keep him cool. 😂
LrdJester@reddit
That last part is an improvised swamp cooler which is fine when the humidity is not high. But if the humidity is hot it's not going to do a whole lot other than just make things dance.
Earthling_Like_You@reddit
Fair enough. I live in a very dry climate.
LrdJester@reddit
Yeah swamp coolers are very common especially in the Southeast. I remember a trip to Arizona where we went to a restaurant and the outdoor seating all had fine misters overhead. The idea is a slight dampness and then the heat evaporates that and that cools you. But if the humidity is too high then it doesn't evaporate. So therefore you just stay wet.
bellj1210@reddit
yes, the southwest is big with swamp coolers- in the north east they are rare since it simply too humid in most of the north atlantic on up for it to really help
Led_Zeppole_73@reddit
I use an ice vest for my daily 3 mile walk, don’t cheap out though get a good one.
Thumper1k92@reddit (OP)
How do you like it? I assume it takes up a lot of space in your freezer?
Led_Zeppole_73@reddit
Works great, I have 2 big chest freezers and 2 uprights so not an issue for me, but it does tie up some space, but not much.
michaltee@reddit
Damn. I hope you’re running solar!
Led_Zeppole_73@reddit
They’ve outpriced me here in solar, it’s not too practical atm and my state gets less than 165 sunny days per average, my break-even point is about 15-17 years and that’s just for grid-tie only. My home is all electric, and the cost right now is averaging less than $150/mo for 1500 sq ft homestead.
michaltee@reddit
$150 a month?! Wow. I have one fridge and during the summer my cost goes up to $200+ for 860sqft apartment.
Led_Zeppole_73@reddit
Geothermal heating/cooling helps, 30-70% more efficient than even a high quality hvac system. I also heat with wood. Six inch exterior walls with wet-blown insulation, 18” in ceiling. Huge windows on the east end and also on the southern-facing living area, will warm things up to 85F in the dead of winter at 9am.
michaltee@reddit
That’s amazing. I live in an apartment so I’m worried about these heat waves and power outages. I feel like I’m screwed if the lights go out. Haven’t had to worry about the cold yet since I’m in CA.
wwhispers@reddit
I pay more for a 900 ft apartment, 3rd floor. Our monthly bill ranges 250 in cool weather and a lot more in summer.
HsvDE86@reddit
I never knew this was a thing, I work in construction, im going to order one.
I’m not really sure how I wound up on this sub but this will help me a lot.
Leader6light@reddit
Wow!
Slow_Consideration@reddit
some styles have removable ice packs so you're just putting a few small ice packs in the freezer. I'm embarrassed to wear mine outside but it's great at home during heatwaves. I've even slept (on my side) wearing it.
Dreamwriter17@reddit
Any you'd recommend? Thanks
eat_the_notes@reddit
Polar Products. I highly recommend the vests, which are very well made (we’ve had ours for the better part of a decade and it’s like new), but I do not recommend their proprietary freezable inserts, which froze uncomfortably hard and wore out after two summers. My recommendation stands, however, because it has not been hard to find small, square, flexibly-freezing, ‘fabric’-covered inserts (e.g. these – a UK brand but I’m sure you can find similar) that have lasted well, and the combination has been invaluable.
big_delaware@reddit
Not gonna make it
NeonChampion2099@reddit
This just sounds like an RPG item you need to reduce elemental damage, man. I just had to look it up to make sure you were not messing with us, hahaha
Had no idea this existed.
Led_Zeppole_73@reddit
I was using the freezer ‘bolo’ back around 2002. Polymer-filled scarf that held moisture long after it thawed.
NeonChampion2099@reddit
Dang, thats amazing. Maybe it helped that I lived in a cold climate until recently, so maybe this was simply outside of my bubble until now.
CakeBaker443@reddit
Indy 500 race car drivers use these as well, can get really hot wearing a fire suit in a race car!
YesAndAlsoThat@reddit
I've heard ice vests will keep you from overheating (heat stroke). But not necessarily keep you comfortable.
What do you think?
Led_Zeppole_73@reddit
I do a fast 2-3 mile walk when it’s 85-90F, that’s already more of a burden to me than the ice vest. The vest definitely makes the heat bearable.
thelikesofyou73@reddit
I run a farmers market and this time of year is miserable. I had no idea this was a thing and I’m absolutely getting one!! Thank you!!!
LonelyAcres@reddit
What!!!!???? How in the world am I just now hearing about this!? As a woman who is going through menopause and sweating buckets this definitely caught my attention.
goldgrae@reddit
Even cheap options like the phase change material cooling neck rings can be quite nice, as well as convenient. I have a nice vest but it's such a pain in the ass and I don't like how it feels, so I rarely use it. But the neck rings are so simple that my kids are even 'stealing' them to use when they're feeling hot.
DeanMalHanNJackIsms@reddit
I have a beard. When I am outside for extended periods, I keep a container of plain tap water to soak my beard in. Acts like a swamp cooler.
minotawesome@reddit
(In addition to all the other tips about being outside) wear a hat soaked in water almost to or at the point of saturation (meaning it keeps dripping)
Oughta keep your head cool for 30-60 minutes, and you can re-up with whatever water you’re carrying or from the sprinklers of whichever maniac is watering their lawn during the day.
mega_low_smart@reddit
I fill my camel pack halfway with water and freeze it. Right before I go riding or walking I fill the rest of it up with water. It cools me off and provides cool water to drink at the same time. The trick is to slightly elevate the bottom when you freeze it so the water isn’t touching the water line or covering the refill opening.
wwhispers@reddit
My fear is losing power again, being on the 3rd floor it got hot quickly. With the way the apartments are, there is no cross breeze options to open. The front door will get a door screen hung and a block placed in to hold it open while the door bar is set. Even if it has to be in the middle of the night. I bought 3 small camping fans but they did little. I need to find a a big fan that is rechargable or get a power bank.
wwhispers@reddit
I have three reptile cages going, for the anole, her light stays on as it's only one. Both bearded dragons has side by side basking heat bulbs for a long basking area. Once they move out, I turn on off, as it seems even with ac going their instinct is to ride out the heat on the cool side after getting heated up. When they go back, I turn the second back on.
Two old ladies sleep very hot, we'd rather suffer a bit during the day and have the ac set to 76-78 and put it on 68-70 at night.
My one son shaved his long beard off already, it's a summer thing he does.
Our apartment gets full morning to 130pm sun, the dragons go in early to enjoy the fresh air and sun, as it gets hotter they go back to the cages and the windows and curtains shut.
Wild_Locksmith_326@reddit
I fill my camelback hydration pack 3/4 full of water and freeze it overnight. As the water melts I drink it, and the ice resting on my centerline helps keep me cook, your mileage may vary. I also keep a flat of water on my roll cart so if I end up on a roadcall I have water available.
wwhispers@reddit
I live in a 3rd floor apartment. Go to the dollartree and get white foamboard for $1.25 each. I need 6 for each window. Three side by side covers the full window area and edition needs to be added to each board, one and a half per piece. The white works for the places that has to have white backing. If there is no white, just pull the paper off one side so it shows the white foam. With the paper left on, it's room blacking. With the paper off light comes through but no see through.
Just a note if the paper is removed, the foam bends after a while and only lasts one or two years. With the paper left on, that can last for a very long time.
JibJabJake@reddit
A super wide brim hate. It’s ridiculous looking but I’m the cool one. Magellan fishing shirts from academy sports. Not the ones you see middle age dads in all the time with two pockets. I’m a large dude and since I swapped to them I stay freaking cool in 95+ heat and 95+ humidity in the Deep South. Also redhead beachcomber shorts. Let things breathe. Also find some shade. if you are working out where there’s not shade then make some. Massive umbrella or a 12x12 pop up canopy.
querty99@reddit
I got a wide brim hat. I think it helps. What's different about the Magellan fishing shirts from academy sports?
JibJabJake@reddit
No clue but they keep me cooler than others I’ve bought
deepcoralreefer@reddit
My post-hurricane grid down heat plan involves staying indoors with blackout curtains drawn, and running a small chest freezer off Solar
Freezer mostly used for making ice using ice cube trays, and frozen water stacked in Tupperware boxes, plus some frozen meats and fruit/veg.
We will be using ice and iceblocks from the freezer to put in a cooler to keep our daily food and drink cold, using large iceblocks for cooler and to put in buckets of water to dip feet in, dip 1 ‘ square muslin cloths in, etc. At night we will refreeze the iceblocks and make more icecubes ready for next day.
I ran a test yesterday to see how long I could keep the chest freezer going with my older, smaller EcoFlow battery.
I set up a fully charged 720wh EcoFlow River Pro (charged with 2 Renogy rigid solar panels connected in parallel with Y adapters), and a Avanti 3.5cu chest freezer 60% filled.
I unplugged solar when it was charged to 100% and just ran the freezer off battery to see how long it could stay powered.
Battery still had 30% charge 12 hours later. Today I’m repeating the test and leaving solar connected all day so battery constantly tops up while daylight. So it should be able to run the freezer overnight assuming solar input starts 9am and stops at 5pm.
In a couple of weeks, my bigger EcoFlow Delta 2 (1024 wh) will arrive with 4 more panels to run 2s2p. With this I will be able to run the freezer AND several fans, wifi, charge devices, laptop etc using solar.
There are Fathers Day/summer deals on with these products and good discounts.
River Pro - amazon $479 down from $649 Renogy 100w/12v rigid panels - $179.99 for two, down from $238.99 Delta 2 - Amazon $579 down from $999
You also need an XT60 cable to connect solar panels, long enough to keep your battery inside - mine is 50 feet long and 12awg - and some Y branch M/ff and F/mm connectors - mine are from Bouge RV and 9 bucks a pair.
agent_flounder@reddit
Just got back from Moab where it was around 100°F each day. Whew.
I find long sleeve fishing shirts with UV protection help keep me feeling cooler than other fabrics.
If I am out in the sun I will wear that plus a neck gaiter, and a wide brim hat. I find it feels cooler than having sun beating down on your skin even with sunscreen.
nsbbeachguy@reddit
Yeah but it’s a dry heat-hahaha.
querty99@reddit
I don't get the joke. We get both here, and dry heat feels almost comfortable even if it's 100+
nsbbeachguy@reddit
Anytime people out west (in US) talk about how hot it is, they always qualify it with - but, it’s a dry heat. As opposed to 100 degrees and 90% humidity.
querty99@reddit
On hot nights I make a tent on my bed with a sheet and run a fan through it. I think next time if I don't have a fan I'll mist-up the sheet a little, also throw some frozen water bottles into towels to sleep against my sides; just keep more towels doubled-up underneath them.
Emotional_Ad3572@reddit
Live in Alaska.
hamsquad@reddit
Frogg Togg cooling towel. I swear by it - keeps me cool wrapped around my neck even out in the sun.
Altruistic-Delay854@reddit
Mylar space blanket shiny side out on windows. This stops heat from entering. If there is a gap between the window and curtain, the space acts as a convection oven. Adding more heat
Banned4Truth10@reddit
The only cure for humidity is cold hard AC.
Thumper1k92@reddit (OP)
Well that's just objectively false. AC is power hungry and does almost nothing about humidity. Just temperature.
You're thinking of a dehumidifier.
shikkonin@reddit
AC definitely influences humidity...
Banned4Truth10@reddit
I meant over 90 degrees plus extremely humid which is objectively true.
No hacks could substitute a room with AC
Financial_Resort6631@reddit
Our bodies already cracked the code on this through evolutionary processes. It is called evaporative cooling AKA sweating. So you can support this by misting areas of your body without massive sweat glands. The neck is great. Wearing light colored breathable materials like cotton and linen. Fans help the process. Boonie hats are great.
EngineerRemote2271@reddit
hold your hands under running water until they go numb.
The cooled blood from that area then cools the rest of your body
Apparently the US experimented with special cooling gloves for Navy Seals that did this
Doing it for feet, same thing but slightly more inconvenient
Goofygrrrl@reddit
If you are in heat stroke or exhaustion, the ER will pack ice in your arm pits, groin, and neck. It’s a fast way to cool the main vessels in your body. There’s more extreme measures not fit for the layman. But those are used in extreme cases
temp_nomad@reddit
Um, now I'm definitely curious about the more extreme measures. Can you give some examples?
gtinmia@reddit
In overheated Phoenix, firefighters are carrying giant plastic, ice-filled bags to quickly cool people, a technique pioneered in the military and at sporting events.
https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/05/phoenix-heat-stroke
Goofygrrrl@reddit
Drop a nasal gastric tube into the belly and fill the stomach full of ice cold normal saline. Put a Foley catheter into the bladder and fill it with the same.
It feels like a brain freeze over the entirety of your spine (or so said my patient. They took a bunch of ecstasy, lost the ability to sweat and had been dancing for at least 6 hours. Found on the floor of the club after the rave with a body temp of 107)
temp_nomad@reddit
Wow, that does not sound pleasant at all! Are you an ER Doc? How often do you have to do these kinds of things?
CharacterAd5405@reddit
Ice packs on the insides of your wrists do ~about the same.
4r4nd0mninj4@reddit
About 8 years ago, I was stuck working a private security side gig for 8 hours a day in the August sun. All black tactical uniform with vest, and no shade. I cut a hole in the top of my hat and sandwiched a 5v micro fan between a bottle cap and 2 1x2" solar panels. I got a small 4x12 12v flexible solar panel and wired it up to a 3" ducted computer CPU fan wrapped in black craft foam and clipped below my chin at the top of my vest. When my back was to the sun, the fan blew air down my chest and evaporated the sweat in my base layer, cooling me to an almost uncomfortable level. Two coworkers had to go to medical with heat stress. I picked up their shifts and worked 16hr, 20hr, 20hr, 16hr over the four day contract. As long as I stayed hydrated, I stayed cool.
I've been meaning to make a better version of them, but I've never had the opportunity to put myself in that kind of a situation again.🤷♂️
Subtotal9_guy@reddit
Do little, I will try to get all my outside work done this weekend before the heat.
Dress for the weather, I have linen dress shirts for the office and light weight madras shirts for home.
I'll be up early before the heat and in bed early when it's bad.
We'll also shift to using our vented dryer from the ventless.
Taotaisei@reddit
"Before the heat" friggin when? I wake up and it's 82° at 6am? It's 1am and 80° right now! Midday is smoldering in the 90's. I'm supposed to finish installing the fence, of which the posts I've put in, but my gosh it's so hot. If it's not raining, it's a thunderstorm here or a tornado warning. Yet my governor won't admit global warming might have had an impact. My definitely. Not certainly. Just might.
ejaime@reddit
Any particular madras shirt you recommend?
bellj1210@reddit
brooks brothers had a nice one years ago if you can find them used.... but really anything that is a light linen is a good idea.
Subtotal9_guy@reddit
Whatever was available on Poshmark
Non-Newtonian-Snake@reddit
Put a couch and a tv/books in your basement .
It's always nice in a basement.
mylifeisathrowaway10@reddit
Light-colored linen pants. I found a few at a thrift store and they've been amazing on hot days.
Independent-Web-2447@reddit
Salt water and actual fruit juice accept the heat because in a situation where your forced to it’ll be so much easier so I really just sweat my ass off can still workout in it though which is my goal. Just finished up arctic training up in Alaska though so I do not mind I’m in Georgia getting ready for heat training once I get my vest.
Funny-Education2496@reddit
One of the many lucky aspects of the house I live in now is that the ground floor is built into the side of a hill. On the hottest day of summer, I can go down there and it's cool and lovely, no a/c required. So, as I learned, underground = cool.
So for those of you planning to build a bunker or other bug out location, I would suggest this--dig a deep hole before placing your cargo container or other bunker in it. It should protect you from all extremes of whether and temperature, while also keeping you hidden. Just remember to bring plenty of Doritos. 😁
overcomethestorm@reddit
I lived for years without AC in my upper apartment or vehicles.
I would open all windows at night and turn on fans in front of them to draw the cold air in. Then I would shut the windows during day and pull the shades shut so the sun couldn’t heat the room. I live in the woods so the air is usually cooler there to begin with.
I wore skimpy clothing. Sometimes I just wore a sports bra and short-shorts in my apartment.
I would drive down to the lake and just sitting out there drops the temperature ten degrees. Swimming cools you off even faster.
Cold showers work. Kiddie pools filled with cold hose water work. Sprinklers work. Wetting yourself down and sitting in front of a fan works. Shade with a breeze works. Sitting in a basement and laying on the cold concrete works.
Taking a car ride with the windows all the way down will help to a certain degree.
unorganized_mime@reddit
If you’re prepared body, supply and skill, you won’t freak out.
runningfoolishly@reddit
For when the power goes out like it did yesterday, solar with a small back up battery and two window unit HVACs.
I have a hot tub I use in the winter that becomes a cool tub in the summer. 20 min soak and you are cool for at least an hour.
Mr_Mouthbreather@reddit
There's a sub for this topic: r/heat_prep
kenjiman1986@reddit
Acclimate, stay hydrated and get hard.
Ducks7324@reddit
My tactics so far are to try to incorporate words like ‘rizz’, ‘cook’, ‘slay’, ‘fire’ and ‘bet’ in my daily vocabulary if that doesn’t make me cool, I may start wearing Jordans, tapered jeans and get my hair cut so I look like an Alpaca! I will keep everyone updated on my progress!
SixMillionDollarFlan@reddit
ngl this is so fire I'm dead
BigJSunshine@reddit
r/lostredditors
V-SELECTA@reddit
Don't underestimate the importance of sunscreen. Everyday, even overcast days. Choose lightweight long sleeves - get some throw on options with UPF. Drink water, all day.
If you have to do something outside, could it be done at night? We do garden chores by headlamp and switched to nighttime grocery runs.
Ready-Cup-6079@reddit
Please don’t forget zinc oxide. It’s more expensive, but it’s simply the best of the best. If you don’t want cancer, zinc oxide sun screen it is. Californian here, I would know 😂
Led_Zeppole_73@reddit
I like the night work idea, especially where I live. For example, it will be close to 90F here tomorrow and 60 at night.
EricaDeVine@reddit
"Stay cool"? Are you out of your mind? I moved to central Texas so I wouldn't be cool/cold ever again. I'm looking forward to the 100+ days. But seriously, it does help if you LOVE the heat.
IsaKissTheRain@reddit
Why are you like this? You’re one of those camels who put a coat on at 70 degrees, aren’t you??
EricaDeVine@reddit
I do surprisingly well in the cold. I just loathe it. I moved to Texas from Erie, PA. Our last winter there, it was -30, and I walked a couple miles to work most mornings. That being said, YOU are already like 99 degrees. Literally. You shouldn't even feel warm until it's at least 100. 99 degrees is body temp.
IsaKissTheRain@reddit
I was only joking with you, but I have to say, that is some awful understanding of physics and biology. Your internal temperature is not consistent. Parts of your body are different temperatures, like famously male testicles. The brain also tends to run hotter than the rest of the body. Certain extremities like ears and fingers tend to be cooler and should be cooler.
However, having the outside temperature being 99 degrees will raise the internal body temperature faster because there is no cool or cold air sapping your body temperature. This becomes an even more severe problem when you factor in humidity, which makes it difficult to sweat. People can and have died due to 85+ degree temperatures. It doesn’t matter what you think should or should not be tolerable. All that matters is what has factually happened.
SnarkSnarkington@reddit
A window unit AC in the bedroom. Why pay to cool the whole house at night if you are only going to be in the one room? When I do cool the whole house, there is a little less load on the HVAC. The time my HVAC went out, it made things bearable to schedule the repair later instead of an emergency call. If I were to set up a generator, it won't need to be a whole house one.
donnieCRAW@reddit
When I worked in a steel mill, I would run cold water over my wrists. It made the heat more bearable. There are ice/cool packs for the wrists available.
Thebigfreeman@reddit
Identify the warmest and coolest rooms in your place and open/close doors as needed.
After years of suffering, i realized the bathroom that i always kept open over night 'to cool the place' was actually the warmest area at home, even during the night. Now closing it every night, i think i gain 1-2 degrees in summer.
Fheredin@reddit
A moist bandana on the head and a large ice water.
Miss_Rowan@reddit
Lol my brain read that as moist banana
PeachAgreeable9536@reddit
Me too! 😉
Fheredin@reddit
I imagine that would work, too. Might get a touch sticky, though....
pants-pooping-ape@reddit
Long sleeve shirt with vents.
Cool max underpants
jjgonz8band@reddit
I live in Phoenix, wet yourself with water until your clothes are soaked....this method works best in dry heat.
I also use an ice vest when walking.
madpiratebippy@reddit
Put a trellis made of fishing wire a foot away from your house and grow vines up it, double points for cucumbers- being vertical helps fight diseases, the leaves are huge and they tend to shed a lot of water in heat so they do a great job keeping the house cooler. The foot of airspace is importantly to both maximize the cooling, and make harvest easier. It’ll also protect your house if your siding sucks.
Screw in eyebolts in the eves and fishing line, at the end of the season you can hang Xmas lights from them.
Neensaa@reddit
Cooling foods like cucumber, watermelon, mint, help cool from the inside. Bonus, they are also hydrating.
13SilverSunflowers@reddit
Wet towel rolled up long ways draped around your neck like a scarf. You'd be amazed at how much cooler you'll be.
PewPewThrowaway1337@reddit
I live in the South. It hit 98 today and with a 103 “Real Feel” and enough humidity to drown a rock. My tip for people is to acclimate and to stop relying on AC.
Drink lots of water, wear breathable fabrics, and make sure you’re staying in shape. Being fat in a hot climate is just extra insulation to make you miserable.
You’d be surprised at how comfortable 90 feels when your body is acclimated to it. When I first moved to the south, the thought of running outside during the summer seemed crazy. Now a 10-12 mile run in 90 is just a normal Sunday. Sure, it’s hot, and I sweat profusely, but it’s nowhere near as miserable as it was to me 5 years ago.
thomas533@reddit
My basement never gets above 70 degrees even on the hottest days.
zigarock@reddit
Lining the bottom of my chest freezer with 1L water bottles. Not really a stay cool for me but when the storms start hitting and power goes out my steaks will last longer.
Appropriate-City3389@reddit
I used to commute by bike in the Phoenix area. It was 22 miles each day. At 110F, I had a 3 liter hydration pack. I had a hand held misting device that blew back in my face and a large but thin freezer pack that fit inside my helmet. "Cooler heads will prevail while others are losing theirs."
chinawcswing@reddit
Why didn't you drive instead.
Appropriate-City3389@reddit
More balls than brains, I also achieved less than 5% body fat.
traversecity@reddit
For myself, younger me, I think I’d be more at 8 liters bicycling 20 miles. Young me commuted daily perhaps 5 or 6 miles at a gentle pace, peddling to work/school early morning, back in the evening.
Now on the other hand, a person in excellent physical health and fully acclimatized, well, had see it in person what I would assume from reading history and such.
Decades later, we had a staff member, probably in the range of 25 to 30 years old. His girlfriend later wife competed professionally in triathlons, a sponsored athlete. He did too, but not at a professional level.
His summer conditioning regime was simply bicycle commuting. From Awatukee, over South, up to Camelback and 24st. He changed clothes and shoes at the office. No hydration pack, think I remember water bottle, would guess he stopped at a drinking fountain somewhere in the South Mountain park.
Another anecdotal observation, my previous carrier had me driving to mountain tops. Here in desert Phoenix, South and Shaw specifically. I’ve unfortunately had to first responder a very few people at both, in the summer, typical potential newbie or out of towner, yep, I’ll be good midday hiking up Shaw Butte with my wee pint water bottle, suicidal idiots.
Contrast that with a fellow I’d see walking the South Mountain road, two WWII style canteens, moderate walking pace, looked like a mercenary. Summer, winter, always mid day - probably well conditioned physically. I compared him to my father in law, his biggest WWII gripe was walking across North Africa after being issued a wool uniform, army has a reputation then of sending exactly the wrong stuff to the troops. No hydration packs either.
My observation, I’m quite acclimated to this area, in that young me had no difficulty in 60F water for a swim, annual pulling the boat dock in standing in water that is beginning to ice over. Then after living in Phoenix a few decades, I didn’t last five minutes in summertime north Atlantic water.
Now that I’m old and the past 25 years an office worker, I seem to have the worst of both, can’t swim unless the water is warm, can’t go far mid day outside in the summer sun.
All these comments here about keeping cool and such, I appreciate the perspectives, but know the bottom line is acclimation and physical condition.
Stuck in the heat is uncomfortable, physically not dangerous if you are fit.
less_butter@reddit
I do a lot of work outside and I cover every inch of my skin to protect it from the sun. It really does work to keep you cooler.
I see tough guys working outside with their shirt off, complaining about the brutal heat, and I'm doing just fine. They think I'm insane for wearing a hoodie when it's 85F and not a cloud in sight, but it's a sun hoodie and is lightweight and blocks UV rays.
Exposing your bare skin to direct sun doesn't keep you cool in any way, it does the opposite. Go visit farm country and see how many people are out there working in the fields with their shirt off. It's none of them, they're all fully covered up.
mothernatureisfickle@reddit
We use a tree company fairly regularly for yard maintenance and two guys on their crew cover their bodies from head to toe. They wear lightweight cloth coverings on their faces with sunglasses and big hats with long sleeve shirts and pants and lightweight gloves. I asked them about it and they said simply “the sun is dangerous”.
I’ve known these guys for years and I have absolutely no clue what they look like.
Ok-Comedian-4571@reddit
Suggest you cross post this to /r/heat_preppers OP 😊
Apprehensive_Ad_8379@reddit
We planted a lot of trees several years ago. Where we are in central VA, everyone lives on these huge properties that they deforested to create lawns. It makes everything so much hotter! There’s nothing like the deep shade of tall trees. Also, we don’t run our ac very low (set around 72/3 mostly to dehumidify). We spend a lot of time outdoors. This all helps with acclimation, which makes a huge difference. I’m sure if we lost power long term we would be very uncomfortable sometimes, but I don’t think we’d actually be in danger.
tuckyruck@reddit
Made a cattle trough swimming pool a couple years ago on the farm. So, whenever I'm overheating from work the last few days I go for a dip and get back to it. Works exactly as I wanted it to.
Only problem, it has a severe side effect. It makes you want to grab a beer and call it quits on the work.
HappyAnimalCracker@reddit
I have a big clawfoot tub in my bathroom. I fill it with cool water and hop in periodically through the day to drop my core temp. At the end of the day I drain and rinse the tub.
For working outdoors, I strap a flexible gel ice pack to my head, particularly the base of my skull. Keeps my brain cool which makes my whole body more comfortable. If it’s really bad, I’ll add a second one around my waist to cool my back.
tuckyruck@reddit
Very nice! I'm telling you farm work got substantially better when I made this thing. I can strip down and fall into it and just lower my temp so fast, it's invigorating. It's chlorinated and has a good filtration system so it doesn't get yucky. But since I've gotten it my quality of life has significantly increased.
I will take your ice pack advice though. I have so many ice packs in my freezer but I never thought of using one while working!!!
HappyAnimalCracker@reddit
I can believe your cattle trough makes all the difference. And your setup,being chlorinated and filtered, uses less water than my solution.
No matter how ya achieve it, it’s so much easier to have stamina for work if you can keep cool.
SecretRecipe@reddit
Finger guns.
Dempsterbjj@reddit
I am currently working on installing a geothermal unit… our current system is no longer functional. So far no problems but our house is built into the side of hill so it stays decent in the lower level.
Led_Zeppole_73@reddit
I built my home new with geothermal included, have used geo for 25 years.
milspecspud@reddit
Ryobi battery powered fan changed the game for working outside. Freeze water bottles if you are going to be outside for most of the day.
sparxcy@reddit
A lot of stuff replied here and 'a nice cup of tea'!!!! The British aren't dumb to have a teapot and kettle fitted in their tanks as well! Works wonders for any heat wave- was 47 degrees Celcius today and i was having tea!!!!
Kindly-Arachnid-7966@reddit
Holding something cold in both hands and the base of the neck has worked wonders for me.
comradescoundrel@reddit
My main trick is to mostly do stuff at night. Big emphasis on that. If you must be outside, stick to the shade as much as possible and take it very easily if you're doing physical labor. Trust your body and listen to it if it's saying to get the fuck in the shade and do nothing. A wet towel on the back of your neck does wonders. Obviously, drink a ton of water.
dumdumpants-head@reddit
Downing a couple quarts of ice water is amazingly effective, cooling from the inside out! It's how I wind up paradoxically better hydrated in hot weather.
maybeex@reddit
Actually drinking warm water will cool you better if it is dry heat. Desert people drink hot tea all the time. But the satisfaction I agree with you.
https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/did-you-know/drink-hot-drinks-hot-weather-cool-down-faster
Itchecksout_76@reddit
Came to say this: ice water makes you sweat more do not drink it drink tap/ COOL water
GigabitISDN@reddit
Important caveat: hot beverages only cool you faster if sweating is effective. If humidity is high, cold drinks are most effective.
dumdumpants-head@reddit
I do take hot showers for the peripheral vasodilation, but internally I def go for the comfort of a heat sink method. The method used in that study relies on pretty specific conditions as you mentioned, and the results go out the window if you're already sweaty.
I've even started shivering and had to put on extra layers with the ice water method for a similar reason: since your vasculature is already configured to dissipate heat, by adding another place for the heat to suddenly sink into the effect is dramatic.
Large volume at once is key. Slam the water, don't sip. (I'm a fairly large organism with a salty diet so I don't worry about hyponatremia, but for those who are it's a good excuse to have some potato chips).
SheDrinksScotch@reddit
Silk clothing
IsaKissTheRain@reddit
I find linen to be better. Silk isn’t bad, though.
SheDrinksScotch@reddit
I love the texture of silk, and it's more versatile because it's good in both warm and cold weather. That said, a silk-linen blend can be lovely.
IsaKissTheRain@reddit
That might be my problem. I do not like the texture of silk much. I have a few silk items but....ugh, it bothers me if it’s directly against my skin.
SheDrinksScotch@reddit
Silk comes in different textures, from raw to satiny.
IsaKissTheRain@reddit
It’s the feel of the fibre for me. I’m very particular about texture.
SheDrinksScotch@reddit
But the fibres feel very different...? Raw silk feels actually pretty similar to linen.
IsaKissTheRain@reddit
Maybe I just haven’t worn/felt an item with raw silk. I have this silk and linen blend shirt, and it feels ok, so I’m not totally against it. I’ll keep my eye out for raw and give it a feel. But that aside, I just like linen in general.
SheDrinksScotch@reddit
You can find a company that sells raw silk and visit one of their stores in person to try on before you buy.
Cronewithneedles@reddit
Frozen grapes, rechargeable neck fan
greenman5252@reddit
I sleep in my walk-in cooler during heat dome events
DougS2K@reddit
What if it's already full with other bodies though?
scootunit@reddit
Through a couple in the pit barbeque overnight.
DougS2K@reddit
Smart!
WasteMenu78@reddit
Lots of incorrect information out there folks about heat first aid. The gold standard is if someone is experiencing the symptoms of heat stroke (with the most prominent being confusion, seizures, loss of consciousness - basically acting drunk), immediately call 911 and aggressively cool them. Minutes count, they’re literally cooking. Douse them with Ice cold water, point fans at them, if you can pack them with ice, do it. Ideally Lay them in a tub or kiddie pool (protect their airways) and fill it with ice water to their neck. The research shows that if you can do this rapidly (within 30 min of symptoms) the outcomes are quite positive.
WasteMenu78@reddit
Plugging our new heat preparedness subreddit r/heat_prep lots of great discussion, tragic case studies, and discussions about effective cooling strategies in various scenarios!
reincarnateme@reddit
Keep windows and curtains closed
HappyAnimalCracker@reddit
This works so good. I put panda film up with velcro and take it down in the winter. Because I attach the velcro to the frame, it provides about a 1 1/2” air gap and the white reflects everything back out. The absolute light tightness of panda film really keeps the heat out and I don’t need to turn on A/C until it gets around 95F outside. Then I air the house all night to reintroduce cool air indoors and freshen the place.
If it’s uncomfortably hot at night I put a flexible gel ice pack on my pillow and sleep like a baby
Walfy07@reddit
if humidity is under 65%, wet shirt
whoopercheesie@reddit
Shmeghs
vicenkicks@reddit
I’ve always heard this, but how do you wear one to keep cool? I’ve only ever used mine as a scarf in cooler temperatures
whoopercheesie@reddit
Wear them like the Saudis do draped down the sides of your hand. It's the best cooling tech for hot sun.
Bekiala@reddit
I often just get my hair wet but I live in a relatively cool dry area.
crazziuzmasey@reddit
Mine is quite simple....I moved to the mountains. Locals here are complaining at the moment, but I just came in from weed whacking
Seppostralian@reddit
Pretty basic shit, but my suggestion is I usually wet some small towels, throw them in the freezer and put them around my neck later. Particularly good since you can wear them in your lawn or something if you are doing things outside.
Works really well in a dry place due to the evaporation effect the cold water has. IDK if it would work as well on the U.S. East Coast but wouldn’t hurt to try. Stay cool!
Redtail_Defense@reddit
I did some comfort updates to my unfinished basement including updating my reloading bench and leatherworking bench. I actually did it because of the increasing number of hours I end up spending each year in the basement waiting for tornado warnings to pass. It's cooler down there than upstairs.
JAke0622@reddit
**Laughs in 102 degree Texas weather
JAke0622@reddit
I swear. I spend my summers inside attics. Most days it reaches between 130-170 degrees Fahrenheit. For myself I don’t do anything, my body is used to it. For others I recommend water, wetting clothing, and full coverage (hat gloves pants long sleeve shirts etc)
Banjoschmanjo@reddit
Fingerless gloves and sunglasses for me
jerry111165@reddit
I’m in Maine working in my garden right now - but am taking a break under the big maple in the pasture next to it. Its nice and cool under the trees.
MooseMan13692@reddit
We've got a nice breeze going in the southern part of the state today
MissDelaylah@reddit
AC out? Set up in the basement for sleep and living. It’s much cooler down there and is comfortable in a pinch.
Stock of ice cubes and frozen water bottles.
We have a pool but also access to a river for cooling off.
Sun hats, UPF clothes and electrolytes for outdoor time.
Delirious-Dandelion@reddit
I wish I took spf clothing more seriously earlier in my life. I thought athletic gear was essentially the same thing. Boy was I ignorant!!
GigabitISDN@reddit
The local fire departments set up cooling shelters for those in need. They’ll have a TV or three, board games, some books, and water. All indoors, air conditioned. They all have backup generators in case the power goes out. In cold months they do the same with heat during especially bad cold snaps.
Our family will be fine but we’re staying in constant contact with our elderly relatives. If their AC goes out, they’re welcome to come here or get to their nearest shelter.
Hashi856@reddit
If you’re outdoors, soak your shirt in water. Not only do you get evaporative cooling, but you’re also getting dryer as time goes on, as supposed to wetter with sweat
Chance_Contract1291@reddit
This is what I do, too. Wet shirt and wet hair. Swimming is good if you have access to a pool, lake, pond, or creek.
OrdinaryDude326@reddit
Well, it's no longer a problem for me. I added more solar panels and batteries, because I kept running out solar power in winter. Now, since spring, I never run out, so my mini-split has run 24x7 off solar and I still have extra. I just yesterday ran a 240 volt outlet from my inverter to my stove, but it's not big enough to run the oven :( , but can run the big top burner. The oven bumped my inverter to 119% and the inverter is 5000 Watt continous.. WTF... That was my plan to use some of this extra power. Now I just have to waste it I guess.
As far as outside... I've heard of that place, doesn't sound nice... I try to avoid unfamiliar areas if possible.
LrdJester@reddit
Get one of those stay cool towels. Surprisingly they work quite well. You just dampen them with water and then spin them around a little bit and it's nice and chilly and you can put it around the back of your neck and it cools you down when it starts to warm up you just spin it around some more. You can do this until all the water evaporates. You don't even need to start with cold water you can just start with room temperature water even.
SunLillyFairy@reddit
Ice in your bra - shirt. I used to coach cheerleading in demanding heat, and I'm fairly sensitive to heat and miserable in it. Sometimes the only thing that got me through was ice in my bra and continually wetting my shirt and and the band of my visor with ice cold water. The bra was particularly helpful because that's right at your core. Hats block the sun, but can also lock in hot temps, so I preferred a visor.
Fans. Obvious, but underutilized. They are cheap and keep you cooler. A spray bottle to mist yourself off with a fan works well. Also, this came up on another post somewhere... but there really are more and less effective way to use fans - knowing when to pull air in, when to exhaust it out, the benefits of a cross-breeze. Outside, I don't go in heat without one of those fan misters. I actually like the manual ones better because they don't stop working if your battery goes down and seem to last longer.
Basements/root cellars stay in the 60's usually.
Drinking cool beverages and eating cool foods helps keep you cool. Change that morning brew to an iced drink. Have a sandwich rather than something hot like chili or pizza, or potato salad rather than a baked potato.
funatical@reddit
Rechargeable neck fans help a lot indoors. I don’t find them super effective outdoors.
Otherwise a good straw hat helps considerably.
Radiant_Lychee_7477@reddit
Towel-wrapped ice blankets for the cat & dog.
BigMain2370@reddit
Windows and maybe fans. Sorry, not very "hack" worthy. Also my sun hat.
maybeex@reddit
If you have parents or children affected by heat, same rules apply as you get a fever, wet towel on wrists, neck under arms, etc and make sure you drink something with minerals and eat a bit more salty than usual. Lower floors are cooler as the hot weather rise up. Close your curtains, there are insulated boards in hd and lowes you can put them as well on top of your windows. An inflatable pool in good shade is good for kids. If your house is unberable, camping under tall trees will always be bearable, I have a large hammock, sometimes I put it in our garden under a tree and put a sheer curtain on top of it and sleep outdoors. Dont eat heavy food, keep it light. Older people are affected more, take care of your elderly, help them walk dogs etc, keep them in the shade.
Cute-Consequence-184@reddit
Sit outside in the shade so you can get a breeze
Use cool towels around your neck or behind your knees
Use a rechargeable fan if you need to, mine charges via a small folding solar panel
Use a manual fan if nothing else
Feet and hands in cool water
Drink plenty of lukewarm water
Sleep in a tent if it is too hot inside
Put Reflectix on the windows to help the AC function
Close off unused rooms
patdashuri@reddit
A fan in the attic door. Close all windows and curtains except the basement window on the north side. Fan pulls cool air up through the house. If it’s not too humid it’ll drop the interior temp by 10-12 degrees.
BeyondDriven66@reddit
Back in Philippines, when it’s really hot and we had long black outs, we would just lay down and avoid movement as much as possible. We would only move to swat mosquitoes trying to bite us. Staying stationary didn’t cool us down but it kept us from feeling hotter than necessary. Can’t get any third world than that.
AppalachianViking@reddit
Be fit. Not being a fatass makes the heat much more tolerable.
Acclimate yourself. Spend time outside and get used to the heat. I'm now at the point where mid 80s feels pleasant, and the standard AC room temp feels way too cold.
Stay hydrated. I recommend getting one of those "gallon a day" waterbottles and drinking it daily.
The-Dead-Internet@reddit
Workout in the morning before the sun is out at the park if I go anywhere outside during the day I have a umbrella up at all times.
My hydration pack that has all my stuff in it also doesn't leave me.
dumdumpants-head@reddit
Wrap in a wet sheet and sit in front of a fan 🥶
SlamMonkey@reddit
Jockey’s Stay Cool t-shirts, and a wet bandanna around the neck.
Additional_Insect_44@reddit
Sun hat, bring water, fan, bandanna or cloth loosely tied around neck that's wet.
robot141@reddit
Put on some earphones. Turn up the music and...
Join a gym and work out for 2-3 hours.
Go to the mall for 2-3 hours.
Go to Alpha Mega for 2-3 hours.
Go to the movie theater and pick the longest movie - regardless of language.
Valeen@reddit
I moved out of Texas. Seems to have solved the problem so far.
farfaraway@reddit
As someone who lived in the middle east for 25 years, you guys have no idea what heat even means.
ryan2489@reddit
Weather braggers are the weirdest people
farfaraway@reddit
Weather whiners are the weirdest people. Suck it up
Roguspogus@reddit
So what did you do to deal with it?
ColonelBelmont@reddit
Well I guess you win the heat-off. But most of us don't live in the middle east so it's not exactly relevant to the topic at hand, is it.
27Believe@reddit
I love a good cooking cloth.
papasnork1@reddit
Acclimation if you are healthy enough for it. Go outside and play and get used to the heat and humidity. The unfortunate side effect of it drops below 70 you are looking for a winter coat and boots. That’s me.
Fresh-Pro3@reddit
Wear warmer clothes
Prestigious_Air4886@reddit
I love hot. So I go outside and work.