So it IS true that âthis is just summerâ where I am, but that means I know survival things you donât and yâall were very kind to Texans during the polar vortex so from an Arizonan to all my overheating Canadians:
1) strip down to nothing. Pick out a light shirt and pants. (I like pajama pants for this.) Put them on. NO UNDERWEAR, itâll make the next step suck. Now go get in a cool shower. Yes, with your clothes on. You can sit on a towel when you get out if you have cloth furniture. If you have long hair, use this opportunity to braid and bun it. Itâll stay wet longer, and keep you cooler.
2) stay indoors as much as possible.
3) If you have box fans, put a tub of ice water behind each one and aim it toward the ceiling on a 45-degree angle. Cool air sinks, so this will help circulation in your space and keep it cooler.
4) try to sleep during the day, if you canâbody temperature automatically lowers during sleep. Dampen your top sheet and sleep under only that, in the nude if your living situation allows.
5) NO SODA. NO COFFEE. NO TEA. If you must drink these things, keep it to a minimum. In extremely hot weather, they can dehydrate you (especially soda).
6) find a friend or family member you can check in with at least once a day. Extreme heat can make you sluggish and disoriented even if youâre not in danger of overheating. Having someone to touch base with can help keep you engaged.
7) plan cold meals and do any necessary cooking at night. If you can stay awake this long, 2-3am will be the coolest part of the night and the most ideal for cooking. Youâll want lots of things like sandwiches, cut fruit, meat and veg that you like when theyâre cold. Cooking during the day will heat up the house and you wonât want what youâve made because itâs warm.
8) in the same vein, plan on 5-6 small meals rather than three moderate-to-large ones. Youâll find that youâre not actually all that hungry, and itâll be easier to have a sandwich now and another in two hours than to eat a soup and sandwich and fruit right now. If you have an eating disorder and eating this way concerns you for your recovery, find a buddy to check in with, and remember: THIS IS HEALING. This is allowing your body to digest small amounts at a time so itâs not overwhelmed by unusual heat. You are eating the same amount overall, just in smaller bits.
9) buckle your seatbelts when you get out of the car, and if you have to park outside, leave your windows open by a couple of centimeters. This will prevent heat buildup (the hottest Iâve ever registered the inside of my car was 142 degreesâabout 61C). If you have access to a piece of cardboard, put it inside your windshield to block out the sun. It really does help.
Stay safe, friends. Take care.