to give you an idea on not only how hot it is in the uk, but also just how heat-intolerant we are as a country, i went upstairs to close my blind and stop the sun coming into my room and i started to get dizzy after a few minutes. i didnt sleep last night because of the weather.
is not just that its hot, its that we as a country are built for rain and sleet and hail and howling gales. we dont need AC because its pointless and a waste of space and money if the average temperature is barely above 20 degrees. we live in boxes of insulation. our foods are heavy and hearty and warm for getting us through the cold. we live in almost constant cloud cover so we’re not used to the sun.
my mother and i are constantly panicking over my 9 week old baby sister because she could very easily overheat and die.
heatwaves in the uk are not a fucking joke.
This morning I got out of bed, stood up, and it was so hot I got dizzy, my vision went black and I fell over.
All of our windows are open, there is nothing for us to do. I am lying naked on the bathroom floor because that is the coolest place.
As someone who has lived with the unbearable combo of humidity + no AC (Louisiana after a hurricane is fucking awful) cold wash cloths are your best friend. Put some in the fridge and switch them out putting them on the back of your neck, wear as few clothes as possible, NEVER take a hot shower, avoid stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, and any medication that is not necessary because they can not only raise your temp but most of them make you pee more and will dehydrate you faster. Any type of electric fan, literally anything that gets the air moving is your friend, make sure babies get a cool wipe down often and left in only diapers as often as possible, also pedialite or a knock off of it (it’s like Gatorade for babies without all the sugars and helps keep them hydrated when they’re sick). Fuck capsaicin just don’t touch it I know curry is delicious but DO NOT FUCK WITH SPICY FOODS your systems probably aren’t adapted to handle that plus the weather. Keep your pets well watered and calm. Seriously guys any questions feel free to ask because Louisiana has humidity equivalent to a rainforest in our driest months and I will gladly help keep y’all safe.
^hero.
Also don’t forget that you can put plastic water bottles in the freezer overnight! Fill them about 4/5 to the top (ice takes up more space than water, so if you overfill the bottle will burst) and when you take them out the next morning you will have a bottle-sized ice cube which will melt easily in the heat. The water inside will stay cold because 1. hello, bottle-sized ice cube and 2. it’s literally only just melted. This method works way better than regular sized ice cubes because the water starts out cold.
That said, guys, don’t drink only water. It’s true that caffeine etc will dehydrate you faster, but when you sweat you lose salts and minerals that your body needs and if you only drink water then you won’t replace them. Drink mostly water but be sure to have at least 500ml of something else – orange juice and Sprite work well. And enjoy some guilt-free crisps. Right now, you need that extra salt.
Regarding sleeping, I know a lot of people can’t sleep with wet hair but if you are one of the lucky few, and especially if your hair is long or thick enough that it takes a while to dry even in this weather, try it. It’ll keep your body temperature down, and it beats sleeping in wet pyjamas.
Get a metal bucket or bowl, fill it with ice & set it in front of a fan = cheap A/C.
Regarding babies, playtime in a cool bathtub works great & they love splashing around. 🙂 Make sure wherever they sleep is kept DARK DARK DARK & have a fan blowing NEAR but not ON them. You can totally use the bucket trick in their room, too.
Get as low as you can, too. Sleep on the floor of the lowest level of your house. That’s where it will be coolest. Heat rises, so don’t even try to go upstairs. 😛
If you have a basement, move everyone there until the heat wave breaks.
We have window unit A/Cs in America (Idk about overseas) & a small one can be as cheap as $50. Even if it only cools one room, you can keep that room closed off & use it as a cooling station/makeshift bedroom.
I’ve seen a lot of people ask you about keeping their reptiles cool lately! Saw this and thought maybe it would be a good way to help keep a room cooler for them.
vanhalenofficial 