Summer, hot weather, survival

[AngieM2]

Since we are looking at about 100 degrees F actual today - I thought we need to consider surviving working and playing in this type of weather.

Making sure to pay attention to your body signals for when you are approaching heat stroke, or sun poisoning.

Things to do when you've overdone.

What do you do to stay okay?


I know some people are use to this, and work outside and have built up resistance to the heat. People like me, cubicle folks do not get outside much so feel it quicker.

I do know the southern countries, seem to work early and late, and stay inside during the burning time of day (about noon to 2 or 3).

What tricks and tips do you have about working and keeping cool in this heat? (or when you have this type of heat for your area)

Angie

[Ernie]

I get up near dawn and work until it gets too hot, then I come inside for the rest of the day. I take a good long nap in the heat of the afternoon and then once the sun starts to set I go back to work outside until either the mosquitos drive me back in, or it gets too dark to see.

Also, when working out in the garden I tie a wet bandanna around my neck and let it drape across my neck. That seems to help the heat somewhat.

Inside has become just as big of a misery though. Our house has a very puny air conditioner and I'm unwilling to replace it. 88 degrees inside feels worse than 97 does outside and in the shade.

I've come to the conclusion that most "modern" homes aren't designed for minimal living. They aren't situated in shade, or in a location to catch the breeze. An adobe or earth-bermed home would be a blessing right about now.

[AngieM2]

I know that some people have made tubes with flax seeds, rice or sometimes cracked corn. I hear flax seeds works best. Then wet them and freeze or refrigerate them - use around necks when out in the heat, to keep your core them down some. And always, a hat.

That's one reason an old fashioned sun bonnet with the large rim and back neck cover was used.
Light weight long sleeves also helped - I don't see how one wears long sleeves in this weather, but understand needing the sun blocking features of it.

[zant]

Have you had any rain lately,Angie?Down here in S.Al,we've had 3/4" in 3 months.I too get up early and break from 12-3...I wear just shorts-working on my tan,have a rice tube around neck that works pretty good.

[Usingmyrights]

Protection from the sun is important. Lightweight breathable clothing. Cotton is awful when working out in the heat. Lots of fluids. I find its better to drink small amounts of fluid alot than drinking large amounts of fluid only a few times. I'll drink a good glass full or so before heading out to work in the heat, on a break and then afterwards, but try to sip water regularly while outside working. One summer when I was working construction, instead of packing a regular lunch, me and the guy I was working with would go and buy a water melon and snack on that all day. It helped replinish fluids and had natural sugars to maintain energy levels. While some may disagree, I find that once a cotton shirt gets completely soaked through with sweat its best just to remove it. I've suffered from severe heat exhaustion once when I was in my early teens so I'm well aware of what it feels like when its coming on. I've done some long distance cycling events, with my personal best time being 80plus miles in about 3 1/2 hours time on the bike. When I was doing those types of events It was nothing for me to drink 150oz just while riding. I'd keep water in my camelback then at the rest stops I'd stop just long enough it grab a cup of 50/50 gatorade/water, a cup or two of cold water (the cups were the small few oz size). I'd also grab half a bananna to have an energy boost for the next leg. Point being that you can push yourself pretty hard if you keep yourself from even beginning to get dehydrated and have natural sugars from fruit to give you energy

[AngieM2]

No rain since the tornadoes.
I take that back, I think there was one storm a few days later.

[Txsteader]

On particularly bad days, DH and I can easily each drink a gallon of liquids; we pretty much have a mug of iced tea or water with us constantly.

We usually stay indoors from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. DH likes to be outdoors so, if there's a breeze, he spends more time on the porch or in his hammock.

They're predicting 100° for here today, too. It's already 85° w/ 76% humidity. DH just spent 20 minutes picking okra and came in soaking wet.....looked like he'd just stepped out of the shower fully clothed.

[Usingmyrights]

I love tea and was enjoying a glass just a few minutes ago, but its not good while out in the heat. Its a diuretic so its counterproductive while out in the heat.

[Wisconsin Ann]

What do I do...
1)wear a hat..straw so it breathes and you get air flow, preferably.
2)work in the morning, go to a movie in the afternoon (or siesta in the hammock)
3)Drink sekanjabin..a drink created in the heat of northern africa/Saudia arabian deserts. It's a sweet/tart thing..vinegar, mint, honey...you have a syrup, and add a tbls or more to a glass of cold water (served hot and not diluted in many areas). VERY thirst quenching, and gets folks drinking water.

4)eat pickles. yup. pickles. dills. Something about the pickles (probably the vinegar and salt, eh?) makes you want to drink water. I think it might adjust your chemical balance, as well.

5)wearing long sleeves is difficult for me...but I've learned that loose, flowy sleeves of a loose weave work well.

[earthkitty]

When I work outside, I wear a long sleeve shirt, overalls, gloves and a hat. As I water the garden or the chickens or what ever I am doing, I spray my clothes down too. Works like air conditioning as the breeze blows over me.

Lots of water in my gullet too, about every 15 minutes.

[starlady]

As others have mentioned, plenty of fluids and a wet cloth on the neck. I refill water bottles 2/3 and put them in the freezer - that way I always have cold water through the day, even if I'm out running errands

A pinch of "lite" salt (sodium chloride and potassium chloride blend) in a glass of juice provides the same electrolytes as Gatorade without the high fructose corn syrup, dyes, etc. It's also tastier, in my opinion.

I'm usually a morning shower person, but when it's hot out I take one in the evening (sometimes instead of the morning, sometimes in addition to it, depending on the sort of day I've had) - not right at bedtime but an hour or two before. This both cools me off and ensures that I'm mostly clean when I get into bed - don't have to wash the sheets as often.

I change into shorts and a tank top as soon as I get home from work, which minimizes the amount of time I've spent wearing my "nice" clothes (I can then usually hang them to air out and wear them again, unless it was a REALLY sticky day out) and means I don't have to aircondition my house quite as much.

I'm not afraid to use the AC when I need it, though - my rule is if I'm in a tank top and shorts and drinking cold water and STILL uncomfortably hot, I'll bump the thermostat down a notch. I guess that's not really a survival/preparedness tactic, but I figure why not use it while I've got it... Running the AC only adds about $25 to my power bill - less than $1 a day is worth it for my comfort and ability to get things done more efficiently, I figure.

Summer foods - salads, light pastas, grilled veggies, etc. The psychological effects of "lighter" foods can help a lot when it feels like the heat is oppressive. If I'm making pasta, I make a whole bunch and put some in the fridge - cold pasta, italian dressing, and grated parmesan make a quick and easy pasta salad. I'll often pair that with a regular veggie salad and/or some leftover grilled chicken and vegetables for a nice light dinner. Basically, if I'm making anything on the stove or in the oven, I'll make a little extra to have with salad - chicken, potatoes, steamed vegetables, etc. I can eat salad seven days a week, sometimes two meals a day, because I vary extensively what I put on them so I don't get bored.

I've opened up all the transom windows in my house - older houses in the South often have these as a holdover from a time before AC. I suppose someone handy could retrofit them into a house with high ceilings, though you'd have to move headers. I wish I had more ceiling fans - if I owned this house instead of renting, I'd install ceiling fans in every room! As it is, I only have one in the living room, so I hang out there a lot when I'm home.

Between the water heater, refrigerator, and a west-facing window, my kitchen gets hot in the afternoon/evening even when I'm not running the stove. I try to keep the kitchen door closed to keep that heat out of the rest of the house.

My water heater doesn't have a specific thermostat, just a dial that goes from warm to hot, so I've had to play around with it a bit. I have it set just hot enough to wash dishes and take the occasional hot shower without having to mix in any cold water. I figure that's warm enough! I really wish I had a heat-on-demand water heater, but again - renting!

I bought a bread machine at the thrift store for $3 so that I can keep enjoying fresh-baked bread without having to turn on the oven. Again, I guess this isn't really preparedness - in a power outage I wouldn't be able to use either - but it makes me happy

[chickenista]

For the long term if the world no longer offered fans or AC, I would build a 'summer shelter' and stay out of the main house for sleeping. A building with high celings etc and build it in shade.

But for now, I make a nettle/peppermint tea mix that sits in the fridge. Wonderful. Refreshing.. though I wish Ann would share a more exact recipe for the sekanjabin.

I try to get my work done before the mid-afternoon, take a break and go back out after 6 or so.

That being said.... I have to go out and work NOW.. oh lordy... but it has to, has to, has to, has to get done now.

[Ernie]

Something I have trouble with ...

Do not forget the Sabbath. Take that day to rest and let your body repair itself. That is why it was set aside for us.

[earthkitty]

Originally Posted by AngieM2

Light weight long sleeves also helped - I don't see how one wears long sleeves in this weather, but understand needing the sun blocking features of it.

I used to always work outside in tank tops and shorts, thinking it was cooler and I would get a tan. Often I would get sunburned, and I would get so hot with the sun beating down on me that I would get dizzy. I didn't care...I just powered through it.

Since I have begun to fully cover myself, I am telling you that I stay cooler during the heat of the day. I wear lightweight oversized clothes so that the breeze moves through...never anything tight.

I think when you take away the beat down of the rays on your skin, it really makes a difference.

And you sweat either way, long sleeves or no sleeves. And I'm too old now to care about having a tan. I've crossed over the "I don't want skin cancer" bridge.

[starlady]

Sekanjabin gets served at a lot of summer SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) events. Here are some recipes. Cariadoc, the author/translator of those recipes, attends a 2-week event in August in Pennsylvania entirely in character - no coolers, refrigeration, etc - so his stuff is pretty authentic! I prefer the fruit flavors like this one. It's basically medieval Gatorade!

[earthkitty]

Originally Posted by AngieM2

I know that some people have made tubes with flax seeds, rice or sometimes cracked corn. I hear flax seeds works best. Then wet them and freeze or refrigerate them - use around necks when out in the heat, to keep your core them down some.

I've tried that with frozen bandanas or socks, but I can't take it. They are too cold!

I do use socks filled with rice in the opposite way. The kids call it the hot sock. I have two tube socks in the medicine cabinet. When there is an ache or pain, the hot sock goes in the microwave for two minutes. Portable pain relief.

[AngieM2]

earthkitty - the frozen may be too cold, but just soaked in cool/cold water might work.

[Ernie]

The freezing stuff is a bad idea. Your body responds to that level of cold by generating more heat.

Cool water is the absolute best you can do. Put it on you and let it evaporate slowly. I find that soaking my feet in cold water is also a great comfort.

[earthkitty]

Originally Posted by AngieM2

earthkitty - the frozen may be too cold, but just soaked in cool/cold water might work.

Yep, I just skip the sock and spray my whole self down! Honestly, I have been working all day in 100 degree heat for the past few days, and doing this has made it no big deal at all.

When things NEED to be done, I just can't sit around inside and do nothing no matter what the weather is doing. Today though, I simply must rest.

[SquashNut]

Originally Posted by AngieM2

I know that some people have made tubes with flax seeds, rice or sometimes cracked corn. I hear flax seeds works best. Then wet them and freeze or refrigerate them - use around necks when out in the heat, to keep your core them down some. And always, a hat.

That's one reason an old fashioned sun bonnet with the large rim and back neck cover was used.
Light weight long sleeves also helped - I don't see how one wears long sleeves in this weather, but understand needing the sun blocking features of it.

I would be afraid the seeds would sprout or slime out. Don't they?

i would go for the wet cloth, with no seeds.