The heat index is going to make everything feel awful during this heat wave.
Ideally, you want to have a plan to open windows in the early morning, and then again in the evening, letting cooler air in, closing up by mid-morning to keep the cool air in as much as possible. If you already find yourself in a very hot space, here’s what to do:
- If you can, hang light colored fabric outside of your windows to block the sun before it hits the glass. Sheets, shower curtains, anything will do.
- Use curtains, blankets, cardboard or foil to block sunlight from the inside
- If you have a fan, place it facing out of a window to push hot air out. If you don’t have a fan, open upstairs windows in the evening to let the rising hot air escape.
- Take a cool shower or cool bath to bring your body temperature back down.
- Move your sleeping space to the lowest level of your home – heat rises, so sleeping on the first floor or a basement may be much more comfortable if you have no air conditioning. Even moving your mattress to the floor can make a difference.
- Soak your feet or hands in cool water right before bed, it helps to regulate your body temperature.
- Hang a wet sheet in front of an open window to create an evaporative cooling effect as air flows through.
- Place a bowl of ice or wet towel in front of a fan for a “swamp cooler” that will cool the air more than just the fan.
The Nextsteaders 