Nine Ways to Beat the Summer Heat
by Derek Hart, a native of an area where temperatures often reached 100 degrees from June to September, gives suggestions for dealing with the heat of summer.
When I taught physical education at the elementary school level, I used to carry around a squirt bottle fan during lunchtime yard duty when the temperature rose. To say that I became quite popular among the youngsters who would beg for a squirt (I always obliged, of course) would be an understatement. The fact that I put the bottle in the refrigerator in the teachers lounge in the morning before lunch didn’t hurt, either – the kids loved the cool sensation that resulted.
6. Try taking cool or lukewarm showers instead of hot ones. That helps cool the skin, and leads the body to being more comfortable. I often find myself feeling more refreshed whenever I take a cool shower in the evening.
Swimming pools are also helpful, to state the obvious.
7. Sunscreen is essential for when you are outside. Unless you don’t mind burnt skin and possible melanoma, of course. The higher the SPF factor, the better – I always used an SPF of 45.
And don’t forget to reapply the sunblock often especially if you and/or your family are at the beach and decide to frolic in the waves.
8. The seashore is the best place to go during hot days, because the sea breeze brings down the temperature as much as thirty degrees compared to inland areas. In Los Angeles, CA, millions flock to the area’s coastal regions during hot days; the freeways are often gridlocked with individuals and families seeking relief.
9. Try and avoid strenuous physical activity during hot days whenever possible. During the time I taught P.E., I always cancelled activities when the temperature reached 90-plus and staged a “sun-out”, where the kids and I would sit in the shady areas of the playground, drink water, and avoid the sun.
The reasons why I did this? Because I didn’t need any of the youngsters collapsing and I definitely did not want to make the national news with a headline of “Child Dies of Heat Stroke During P.E. Class”. Conserving energy when the thermometer goes up is always a smart thing to do.
Hopefully with these suggestions you will be more able to deal the the heat that has already arrived, and is sure to continue as the summer progresses.
Why suffer when you don’t have to?
Take it from someone who spent his early childhood in an inland desert-type area: follow these tips, and your potential to have a pleasurable summer will be that much more possible.
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