Your Say On Your City
How To Beat The Heat? Post by: Mix 94.5 11 January, 2010 - 11:51 AM
With Perth about to endure a severe heatwave, here are some essential tips on keeping cool.
1. Drink plenty of water
The heat causes us to lose plenty of water each day. Try to make up for it by drinking at least 2 litres of cool water per day. Stay away from sweetened and caffeinated drinks as they will cause even more dehydration.
2. Take a lukewarm shower
You may be tempted to hop in the shower and turn the water to cold to help cool yourself down. While this may make you feel better initially, your body again overcompensates by generating more heat. To help cool you down long-term, shower with lukewarm water instead.
3. Keep lunch and dinner light and cool
You’re body isn’t ready for anything too heavy when it’s hot outside. Opt for light meals instead and keep them cool whenever possible. Good choices are sandwiches with lean meats or cheese and plenty of lettuce and veggies.
4. Don’t forget man’s best friend
Provide plenty of water and shade for your pets so they can stay cool. Be aware that water will vaporize on extremely hot days. Collapsible Water Bowls and Gulpy Water Bottles are convenient portable water sources for your pet, especially if you're on the road. And avoid sunburn - Pets can get sunburned too, and your pet may require sunscreen on his or her nose and ear tips.
5. Wear appropriate clothing and sunscreen
Sunburn affects your body's ability to cool itself and causes a loss of body fluids. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) along with sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out.
6. Stay cool indoors
If at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place, even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off. Avoid using your stove and oven to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.
7. Use common sense
• Avoid hot foods and heavy meals - they add heat to your body.
• Drink plenty of fluids and replace salts and minerals in your body
• Dress infants and children in cool, loose clothing and shade their heads and faces with hats or an umbrella.
• Limit sun exposure during mid-day hours and in places of potential severe exposure such as beaches.
• Do not leave infants, children, or pets in a parked car.
• Provide plenty of fresh water for your pets, and leave the water in a shady area.
Got your own tip? What's your best way to keep cool?
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Leave your comment
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WestAussiePom says
Go back home to England... I'll take the heat any day
Posted Monday 11 January, 2010 11:53 AM -
drake says
Simple... one word... mojito with lots of ice.
Posted Monday 11 January, 2010 11:57 AM -
PGT says
i just do a barrel roll.
Posted Thursday 14 January, 2010 12:52 PM -
pedlapete says
spend aussie summer in china freezing your nuts off it is minus 6degC here at midday.Wanna swap?Expat perth lad.
Posted Thursday 14 January, 2010 8:13 PM -
Johnno says
Hey Pete, I'll happily swap - the freezing cold sounds good pretty much right about now
Posted Friday 15 January, 2010 10:59 AM -
Fiona says
How to keep cool...sit in front of the air con reading your Xmas book or watching your favourite TV show on a DVD boxset all in one hit.
Posted Friday 15 January, 2010 11:12 AM
And...very important...eat Frosty Fruits. Yum. -
Garry says
ha... you're right on it Fiona - Frosty Fruits are a definite must!
Posted Friday 15 January, 2010 2:42 PM -
Rusburger says
It's too bloody hot - make it stop!
Posted Monday 18 January, 2010 8:52 AM -
henry says
Wear an eskimo jacket and do star jumps to stay cool in summer.
If your too hot, go to Bunnings, buy a bag of cement, and harden up!
Posted Monday 18 January, 2010 2:13 PM -
maggie says
Keep cool by
Posted Tuesday 19 January, 2010 3:31 PM
1. Get the old sprinkler out
2. Find a good spot on the back lawn
3. Turn it on
4. Run through the sprinkler fully clothed if you have to or if you want to you can go naked or put your bathers on
5. Only takes five mintues and you get nice and cool and the lawn benefits as well.
