Everyone seems to look forward to the welcoming heat of summer, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t days that are a little too hot to handle. Every summer seems to have at least one heat wave, where the temperatures are soaring and the humidity is high for days on end. When this happens, the key is to take actions that will help keep you and your family cool and safe. Here are some proven heat wave tips that will help.
Surviving Without an Air Conditioning
It seems that most homes have air conditioning of some sort these days, but if yours doesn’t, you’ll need to take some extra steps to stay cool during a heat wave. Here are several that will help:
- Strategically place fans to push hot air out of the house so cooler evening air can come in.
- Encourage as much air circulation as possible in the evenings with open doors and windows.
- Close curtains in the daytime.
- Soak your feet in cool water, take cool showers and soak the back of your neck and head with cool water.
- Drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated.
- Spend more time in the basement, if you have one, since hot air rises.
- Don’t use your oven.
- Visit public buildings that have air conditioning during the hottest part of the day, when possible.
- Watch pets closely and ensure they are properly hydrated.
Surviving With an AC and a Fan
Whether you have a central AC, or window air conditioners, you can accelerate the cooling in your home using fans. If you have window units, just place fans outside the rooms that have the air conditioners and let the cool air continue down hallways and into adjacent rooms. If you have central air conditioning, set the thermostat a little higher than you’re used to and use the fans to circulate the cool air around the house. Using fans will help the chilled air get upstairs for true air circulation that will keep everyone more comfortable than with just the AC alone.
Helping Kids and Babies Through a Heat Wave
Children and babies deserve special consideration during a heat wave, as they can suffer from heat wave effects much sooner and more severely. Some great heat wave tips to keep in mind for the little ones include:
- Keeping their bedrooms out of the direct sunlight during the day.
- Keeping them inside during the day when it’s the hottest.
- Use a small fan in their room.
- Use a nursery thermometer for babies, to make sure their room doesn’t get too hot.
- Give them a cool bath before bed.
- Use cotton sheets and remove any clothing or mattress covers that may encourage sweating.
- Watch for signs of dehydration and hydrate accordingly.
Should You Exercise During a Heat Wave?
Many experts will suggest refraining from exercise during a heat wave to be on the safe side, but if you must, take precautions. Consider going for a swim instead of exercising outdoors, or go to a climate-controlled gym if you have access. Dehydration and heat stroke are definite possibilities, so make sure you follow heat wave safety tips and stay healthy.
Staying Prepared
Preparation is key when it comes to surviving a heat wave. This is the time your AC system will be working its hardest, so make sure it doesn’t let you down when you need it most. This is easily accomplished by scheduling a maintenance call before the hot weather arrives.
Keep cool this summer by following these tips. Don’t get caught sweating, contact Lambton ClimateCare for all of your A/C unit needs.
