10 Tips to Beat the Heat this Summer!

In Canada, summer means occasional heat waves. Below are 10 tips that can help you survive without air conditioning.

🌡️1 Use box and ceiling fans to circulate the air in the home

• opening doors and using box fans to push hot air outside can work as an exhaust fan and draw cool evening air into your house.

• in the cooler evenings open all your windows and promote as much air circulation as possible.

• when the sun rises, close all windows and doors. Also, close drapes and blinds to keep the inside as cool as possible

• when the outside air is cooler than the inside air, open all windows and doors. Also, turn on the fans again.

🌡️2 Take advantage of the cooling power of water

• fill basins and tubs with water

• wet towels and bandanas are good when worn around the head or neck

• take cool showers or baths

• spritz yourself with cold water throughout the day using a spray bottle
  

🌡️3 Head downstairs

• since hot air rises, the upper levels will be warmer than the ground floor. You can also head to the basement which will be cooler as well.

🌡️4 Eliminate extra sources of heat

• incandescent light bulbs can generate excessive heat

• so can computers and appliances be left running

• eat food that doesn't require use of an oven or stove.

🌡️5 Stay hydrated

• drink more water than you normally do when it is hot.

• if you are sweating heavily, you will likely need to replace electrolytes by eating a small amount of food with your water.

• thirst is the first sign of dehydration so drink enough fluids before you are thirsty to prevent dehydration.
  

🌡️6 Homemade air conditioners

• sit in front of the path of a box fan that is aimed at an open cooler or a tray filled with ice.

🌡️ 7 Avoid alcohol and caffeine

• these can act as diuretics and promote dehydration.

🌡️8 Visit buildings with air conditioning during the hottest part of the day

• such as libraries, shopping malls and movie theatres are all good places to cool down.
  

🌡️9 Don't eat large protein-rich meals

• Such foods can increase metabolic heat and warm the body.

🌡️ 10 Don't forget about your pets

• dogs, rabbits, and cats, - give them a cool bath or shower to keep their body temperature down.

• a cool towel on a tile floor to lie on.

• a cool towel or washcloth laying over their skin can help as well.

• make sure they have enough cool water to drink.

Signs of heatstroke in an animal are

1 rapid panting

2 wide eyes

3 lots of drooling

4 hot skin

5 twitching muscles

6 vomiting

7 dazed look

Call your vet as soon as possible if you think your pet is having a heat stroke. You could save their life.