Best way to stay cool in hot weather

[Domdabears]

Yeah, we are having a HUGE heat wave here in Chicago and pretty much all of the mid west this week.
Hot and the worst part is the humidity. When it's humid it's soooooo much worse. It get's really humid in Chicago.
If my power went out, and the air turned off, I would be forced to spend my days in the basement where it's nice and cool.
If I didn't have a basement, well... I guess go to someones house that is cooler than mine.

[mrgadget]

man I gotta find a link. but theres a cloth tube filled with some kind of chemical. that if you dip it in water and then tie it around your neck helps keep you cool. I used those alot during the 90's but lost mine.

sadly i dont remember what they are called. but they work well.

tapioca[/COLOR] ......is the secret ingredient sewn in the tube......

[Skyowl's Wife]

Must be densely woven fabric or the stuff squishes out (voice of experience, here :rolleyes:).

[noneya]

You can get the Water Crystals at your local garden supply and use some scrap cloth to make them yourself.

[Skyowl's Wife]

sadly i dont remember what they are called. but they work well.

http://industrialsavings.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=bandanas

We inherited a jug of the stuff you put in these, so I can make these bandanas. We use them when Geocaching here in Arizona.

P.S. I saw them in Wal-Mart a couple of years ago in the sporting goods section for about a buck apiece. Don't know if they were decent ones, didn't buy any, but they used to carry them.

[oldsoldier]

Ok here in NC it 93 today, got me thinking, when everything goes wrong what can you do to try and beat the heat?

Lots of good ideas above but most of all keep drinking water even if it has to be air temperature or nothing else matters.

[Snow Walker]

man I gotta find a link. but theres a cloth tube filled with some kind of chemical. that if you dip it in water and then tie it around your neck helps keep you cool. I used those alot during the 90's but lost mine.

sadly i dont remember what they are called. but they work well.

I know what your talking about, but my mind is drawing a big blank too. The whole idea of wrapping something damp around the neck as mentioned above does work, I just don't like to saturate a hat and put it back on my head because it does attract the suns rays even more.

[TennOutdoors]

man I gotta find a link. but theres a cloth tube filled with some kind of chemical. that if you dip it in water and then tie it around your neck helps keep you cool. I used those alot during the 90's but lost mine.

sadly i dont remember what they are called. but they work well.

[emergprep]

when working around the house outside, I keep a bucket of ice water filled so that I may soak a small towel in it. I then wrap the towel over my neck. Cools thew flowing blood to the extremeties. I learned this while working in a restaurant in college. It works in reverse as well, really good for raising the core temp if really cold.

[Snow Walker]

nudity, the only problem with that is. where do you keep your change. LOL

used to I would have said youll get used to it. but as Ive gotten a bit older I find my tolerance of heat over 100 is much lower than it used to be .

I honestly think that cutting down on work done during the heat of the day is best. used to I didnt care, roof tops 120 degrees no problem. now... do it early or do it late in the day.

I DEFINATELY would advise against nudity...heat stroke is dangerous enough in itself...I don't need to add to the list of heat casualty issues by scaring someone to death!!!!!

You make a very good point, I too have less of a heat tolerance as the "old age clock" ticks away just as the young are more prone also.

[TennOutdoors]

nudity, the only problem with that is. where do you keep your change. LOL

used to I would have said youll get used to it. but as Ive gotten a bit older I find my tolerance of heat over 100 is much lower than it used to be .

I honestly think that cutting down on work done during the heat of the day is best. used to I didnt care, roof tops 120 degrees no problem. now... do it early or do it late in the day.

[Snow Walker]

Limit most of your activity to the coolest times of the day. AM/PM

Drink plenty of water and avoid fatty foods. Stick to fruits and vegetables.

Where light weight clothing, I prefer a synthetic/cotton mixture. I like to where my sleeves down and wear pants in the areas I frequent. This actually traps sweat and acts much like an air conditioner.

I believe in wide brim hats and DO NOT believe in wetting the hat while in the sun, this only magnifies the suns rays.

Share activities equally if possible, rest during the peak heat of the day and use sun screen. Work for short lengths of time if need be during hot parts of the day and take a break, work take a break etc...

PROTECT YOUR EYES

If working with a group of people keep an eye on each other for heat related systems.

[Jerry D Young]

Light weight cotton long sleeved shirt and long pants, kept slightly damp with a mister, wide brim hat if out in the sun (pith helmet works best as the pith absorbs water and slowly releases it for a cooling effect). A damp cloth on the back of the neck and keep the hair up off the back of the neck. Drink ambient temperature or hot drinks like tea to bring the blood vessels to the surface of the skin for more cooling effect. (Drinking cold or iced drinks keep the blood vessels pulled in tight to warm the stomach when it has cold foods in it.) Not to say not to enjoy something cold, but constant cold food and drinks doesn't work to cool the entire body as well as warm and hot drinks do.

Just my opinions on the matter.

[Echo2]

There's a thread on swimming holes around here somewhere.....That's as good as anything....:)

Light weight...light color cotton garb....ventilated wide brim straw hat...misting with spray bottle helps....

I'm ready for fall....

[coxmw]

That is one thing I wish I did have, but I don't. When I was young we lived in a mill house no air and wood stove for heat. The rooms had 12' ceilings so all the heat would go up and at the floor would be like 70 all year. I still remember dad having to get a big ladder just to change the light bulbs..