Cooling options

[Greykilt]

Hey, I'd like to hear any and all cooling options...

Human comfort is typically between 68° - 72° f according to the fine folks at Carrier. They say there is no such thing as cold. Just degrees of heat. There's heat in the air all the way down to thirty below or so they post. To be comfortable one either adds heat or removes heat. Heat is removed by evaporation. That's how sweat works. Water eek out of our pours, evaporates, and as it does it takes the heat off our skin. For many years at the turn of the 20th century nurses would apply rubbing alcohol to their patients skin and rub it in. As the alcohol evaporates it took the skins surface heat with it. So to induce cooling we need to find a medium that will evaporate at a temperature below the human comfort threshold.
Wetted bandanas will cool off the head in arid climates but in humid conditions they can stay wet along time. Wearing clothing that will allow perspiration and lift it away from the skin so that perspiration can evaporate is a good alternative. Cotton can't be beat as it breathes but it can be heavier than modern wicking fabrics. Shade and hat wear that can alleviate solar heat gain from the sun. Menthol throat lozenges will give the impression of chill inhalation and open up bronchial airways. That extra breath can cool down the body. At least temporarily.
And one could try the old nurses application. Sit in a shady spot and squirt some hand sanitizer onto your palms. Rub it over your forearms and forehead. Feel the cool as the alcohol evaporates.

 

[Shann]

Not for keeping cool per se, but if you find you get cramps even though you are drinking a lot of water, magnesium supplements can be helpful.

I am a pretty big guy and on blood pressure medicine and I suffered badly from cramping. But since I started taking magnesium pills I rarely cramp up. I still can't take the heat though, it makes no difference in keeping cool, just the cramping issue

 

[bralexander]

Whatever you do, just take it easy. It has been unbearably hot here and the humidity always makes it worse. I was curious about how much sweat I was losing recently while doing some walking and jogging. So, I have been weighing myself before and after going out. On average, while drinking what I thought was a reasonable amount, I have been losing about 2 pounds of water weight an hour! You have received a bunch of good advice, just be careful out there.
Bruce