Staying cool

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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Feb 2, 2005
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Okay, what are some hints, tips, obvious ways to remain cool in this hot weather? Don't know about you guys, but we are having a heat wave in MD this summer. Going to be 98 tomorrow, and 99 Thursday, and that's before humidity is factored in. We're going to get a cool front on Friday and Saturday, it'll only be 90 and 88.

So, other than staying in the a/c, for those of us that are that lucky (only at work for me :barf:), how do you keep cool?

I usually have a lot of water with me, and for what little walking I've done in this extreme heat, it has been early in the AM when it isn't bad.
 
I work in the sun all day from spring thru fall and I have learned a few tricks/methods to keep cool enough to keep working.

I take frequent breaks for water or Powerade to stay hydrated. I don't eat a heavy breakfast and seldom eat lunch.

I wear light colored lose fitting cotton/polyester blend clothing that gives me evaporative cooling. I always wear a light colored hat, not only for the protection from direct solar heat, but to reduce the incidence of skin cancers.

Occasionally, if I feel overheated, I'll pour water over my wrists and wipe my face and head with a damp bar towel. It helps remove accumulated salt and dust, and restarts evaporative cooling on my scalp and skin.

If I feel nautious or other symptoms of overheating, I take a break in the shade.

When heat is at it's worst, I try to schedule my work to coincide with movement of shade from adjacent trees and buildings.

I also use a 48" "heat buster" fan when I am troweling concrete in a hole. The highest temp I have recorded in the hole so far was 138 degrees. These are steel walled swimming pools, about eight feet deep, essentially giant solar ovens.

My biggest concern is my workers who are not acclamated to the heat. I have to watch them closely for signs of heat stress. I haven't had one die yet, so I must be doing something right.
 
Cool-danna's come in useful here in the desert. Basically a bandanna with these crystals in it that provide cooling comfort for hours.
 
If you don't mind looking a little eccentric...then a pith helmet is an excellent solution. Make sure it's made of genuine cork pith and not fiberglass like cheap costume pieces. Soaked in water and worn on the head, a pith helmet is an astoundingly effective way to beat the heat.
 
Acclimate. I tend to let myself get as much exposure as I can during transition periods (Like right now, summers around here are usually 85-95 degrees with occasional 105 degree days, this week it's been around 75) to help acclimate myself without going to extremes. Around here I find exposure to the dryness and the sun to be far worse than the actual temperature, so I wear light canvas or wool long sleeve shirts to help lock in some moisture while still breathing, and getting some UV protection. I'm a firm believer in bandana/shemagh and hats. I love boonie hats or my Kakadu stetson, run a bead of water along the inside of the hat to keep your head cool. Up your salt intake, along with water, to help with retaining hydration.
 
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Like was said already drink alot and then drink some more. But too much plain water would make you sick so add some gatoraid powder about 1\3 of what it says on the box. and just as important is to follow Codger 64 advice. You need to know when to take a break. At some point no amount of water would help, you just need to know when to take a break... Another very important point is not to wait till you feel overheated as its too late already. If someone tells you "hey you look tired and hot" go and take a break even if you dont feel like it. Also just use common sence..

Sasha
 
98 and 99 is just a start around here. You'll eventually get used to it, but it'll never be pleasant.

Besides morning or evening, I find the best time to work outside is in the middle of the day with the sun straight overhead. Get full shade from my hat.
 
Do and wear what people in hot places do.

This heat wave here in Maryland has me imitating my Vietnamise friends. Went to Salvation army store and got some well used and soft all cotton shirts that are two sizes too big for me. Wear them loose outside pants. Got a lightweight cotton khaky bucket hat with floppy brim, keeps sun off the ears and back of the neck. Ball caps are worthless in real hot weather in the sun. Boonie hats are also good.

Do not wear jeans. Get some lightweight docker style pants a size larger than you need. In hot weather, loose and baggy is a good thing. Anywhere you go where its really hot, look at what people wear. Saigon or Bengazi, don't matter. It's lots of very light loose cotton.

And drink lots of tea. I don't know any scientific basis for this, but when I imitated the locals in some of the hot places Uncle Sam sent me, I really felt better. In Vietnam and at Wheelus AFB in Libia, I saw the locals drink tea all the time. Lots of it. So I did. Like I said, I don't know why, but I did feel a lot better. Maybe its just hydrating.

But remember the sun is your enemy. Hide from it. Forget the mussel T-shirts and shorts. Cover up in light stuff.
 
jackknife said:
.... Ball caps are worthless in real hot weather in the sun.
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+1 :thumbup:

Although I must admit my brother (who is a dermatologist) reckons they keep him in business, freezing off skin cancers from the ears and other parts of the face :D




Kind regards
Mick
 
A good hat and loose clothes, and Codger's advice for putting cool water on the pulse points(wrist, neck, cankles). A dip in the pond is sure to cool the body and lift the spirits as well.
Remember the signs of heat stroke: Nausea, dizziness, fatigue, headache, etc.
 
I roll/twist a couple of ice cubes up in a bandana and wear it around my neck. Cubes on the back of my neck. Replace as needed. Loose light clothing,hydrate,hat etc. Move slow,take lots of breaks.--KV
 
I think really loose like Under Armor quick drying shirts and the ultralight nylon shorts are good.

Sandals are great if you can wear them otherwise stop frequently.

When you stop immediately identify and face any breeze.

Drink LOTS of water and try to snack frequently. Drink way more water than you think you need and remember when you are hot you're not hungry so be sure to eat.

Smoking cigs drys you out too.
 
The reason I don't eat during the heat is because it takes a lot of water and energy to digest food. IMHO, it is not worth the eventual energy gain. An exception is snacks, as mentioned, with high energy and easily digested like simple sugars.

I also don't overdo it with the airconditioning at home or in the truck. I never set my thermostat at home below 78, move air with fans. In the truck, I don't use the AC unless I am traveling a distance, but roll the windows down. Going from job to job in AC then getting out into the heat is worse to me than just rolling with the breeze, no matter how hot it is. Of course, I am also in a high humidity zone here in SW Tennessee. Today is relatively cool 98 with only 57% humidity. We worked from 6AM til 9:30 and will go back and work from 5:30 til 9PM. In between we run service routes, usually not too hot or time consuming, sometimes involves diving with a compressor and regulator. That is cool work even when the water temp is in the 80's. I still wear my polyester/cotton "King George's" in the water since I have had really bad sunburn even under eight feet of clear water.
 
Codger_64 said:
The reason I don't eat during the heat is because it takes a lot of water and energy to digest food. IMHO, it is not worth the eventual energy gain. An exception is snacks, as mentioned, with high energy and easily digested like simple sugars.

I also don't overdo it with the airconditioning at home or in the truck. I never set my thermostat at home below 78, move air with fans. In the truck, I don't use the AC unless I am traveling a distance, but roll the windows down. Going from job to job in AC then getting out into the heat is worse to me than just rolling with the breeze, no matter how hot it is. Of course, I am also in a high humidity zone here in SW Tennessee. Today is relatively cool 98 with only 57% humidity. We worked from 6AM til 9:30 and will go back and work from 5:30 til 9PM. In between we run service routes, usually not too hot or time consuming, sometimes involves diving with a compressor and regulator. That is cool work even when the water temp is in the 80's. I still wear my polyester/cotton "King George's" in the water since I have had really bad sunburn even under eight feet of clear water.
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Yeah I like stuff like boomie bars and things but just a couple bites at a stop.

At our old building each unit had temp controls and I was in a unit full of women in menopause. When I'd go outside it was like being hit with a huge hair dryer where the hot flash women kept the unit so cold. Now our heating is centrally controlled and it's not so terrible a transition.

Jim
 
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