Advice from a lifelong desert dweller to my overheated friends up north (or anywhere not accustomed to the fires of Hell):
Drink A LOT of water. And I mean A LOT. If you think youâve had enough, you havenât. Drink more. Or drink Gatorade, Poweraide, hell, even juice. Just avoid hot drinks and alcohol.
Feeling dehydrated? Do NOT chug anything. Chugging will make it worse, and you might throw up, which will make it worse.
If youâre dehydrated, drink ROOM TEMPERATURE or slightly cooler drinks. Do NOT drink ice cold drinks, you will get sick.
Soda isnât great, but itâs honestly better than nothing. Please drink soda if itâs the only option, at least youâll still get slightly hydrated.
AVOID ALCOHOL. I cannot stress this enough. Alcohol will make you much sicker, much faster.
Avoid high sodium consumption. Salt dehydrates you. If you must eat salt, drink plenty of water.
Try to invest in handheld fans and misters. Definitely get a decent sunhat. Invest in sunscreen.
Buy an extra reusable water bottle. Fill it with water and refrigerate it. When you finish one bottle, swap and repeat.
Limit your time outside as much as possible. Heatstroke is fatal and can happen fast.
Take cool showers or baths if possible. If nothing else, cool clothes on neck and forehead.
Take some time to look up homemade ice packs and make a few. They can be a great asset if you need to cool down quickly. Again, forehead and neck.
Pets need a lot of water when itâs hot. Also, consider trimming any critters with long fur so they can stay cool.
If you can, get box fans and place them in strategic locations. Place one facing your bed and drape a damp towel over it at night. Make sure itâs not dripping onto any electrical outlets or cords. The damp towel can help cool down a room.
Rest as much as possible. Drink water while resting.
Seriously, I cannot stress this enough. Drink A LOT of water. If you canât stand water, drink a sports drink or juice. Even soda is better than nothing. Just STAY HYDRATED.
If you feel clammy, dizzy/faint, a faint but rapid pulse, or youâre sweating excessively, find shade, sit, rest, sip water. You may have heat exhaustion. Ask someone to get you a damp cloth.
If youâre hot but not sweating, have a rapid, strong heartbeat, feel nauseous or faint, SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. You may have heatstroke. Heatstroke can be fatal.
Take care of yourselves. This is not a joke. Heat can be fatal.