Staying Cool This Summer
Here are some tips:
1. On extremely hot days, run cold water on the inside of your wrists
2. Always drink a minimum of 8 eight-ounce glasses of water every day
3. Do not to exercise outside when the temperature and heat index exceed safe conditions
4. Put a bowl of ice water in front of a fan if you don’t have an air conditioner
5. Wear loose, natural-fiber clothing
6. Soak your feet in a basin of cold water, or sit out in a baby pool filled with cool water
7. Cool off in your basement, as it’s usually at least 10 degrees cooler than upper floors
8. Keep your hear off your neck and pull it up as most heat escapes from the top of your head
9. Put a cool, wet cotton towel around your neck
10. A quick cool shower will keep your pores unclogged and efficiently sweating
Keeping Your Home Cool
1. If you don’t have an air conditioner, open the windows only in the room that you’re in and the one opposite. Position the fan to blow from one window to the other to create a cross-draft
2. Instead of using incandescent light bulbs, which give off a lot of heat, try using florescent lights
3. Keep your shades / blinds closed on the side of the house the sun is shining on
4. When not in use, unplug computers, TVs and VCRs. Even when they’re turned off, these appliances generate a lot of heat
5. Heat rises, so avoid the upper floors of your house
6. Hang roll-up bamboo blinds outside the east and south windows of your home
7. Eat ice cream and popsicles
8. Try wearing a wide-brimmed, breathable hat when in the hot sun
9. Avoid dehydrating beverages like alcohol and caffeine
10. Eat lightly and stay away from fatty foods and excessive protein (that aids heat production). You should eat salty foods to replace sodium lost due to sweating
11. Grill outside whenever possible, avoid using the hot stove on hot days
12. Keep a spray bottle of water handy and mist yourself when you start to feel warm
13. If you don’t have air conditioning, head out to the mall, library, movies or a restaurant to take advantage of their air conditioning
14. Use muscle rubs such as Ben-Gay, which, when rubbed on pulse points, make you feel cool
15. Watch your medications – some decrease perspiration and contribute to overheating
Keeping your home cool in the summer (especially if you have it listed to sell) is important too. Contact me for more information about selling your home
