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Easy hacks that will help you stay cool under extreme heat: Video

Cody Godwin   Paste BN
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Are you tired of the extreme heat warnings? Of course, Mother Nature does as she pleases, but you can be better prepared to deal with high temperatures.

Staying inside, directly in the path of the air conditioning or a fan blowing cool air across your skin, may seem tempting—but it’s not a realistic way to pass the time. Sometimes, you just have to venture into the sweltering outdoors. When you do, little things—like the clothes you’re wearing or bringing small items to help you stay cool—can make a big difference.

No matter how you're beating the heat, whether it's in the pool or lounging on the couch, it’s important to stay hydrated and regularly drink cool water. 

Watch this video for 3 clever hacks to keep you cool in the extreme heat.

Tips to cool down

Make smart wardrobe choices. Wear clothes made from 100% cotton, linen or bamboo. Avoid polyester blends, as they trap heat and make you feel even hotter. Choose looser-fitting clothes to allow more airflow and help keep you cool.

Color choice also matters. Lighter colors can make a big difference in high temperatures. We tested three different colored shirts to see the difference in temperature while wearing a shirt in the sunshine in Arizona. 

  • A black shirt registered at 110.8ºF.
  • A grey shirt registered at 101.8ºF.  
  • A white shirt registered at 99.5ºF.

The temperatures were checked again after the shirts were left in the sun for about an hour. 

  • The temperature of the black shirt was 150ºF. 
  • The temperature of the grey shirt was 133ºF. 
  • The temperature of the white shirt was 124ºF. 

Use a neck cooler. These neck cooling rings can be stored in the freezer and then worn around your neck when you’re heading outside. They freeze fast, so they’re ready to go when you are. These are great for yard work, walking your dog, at a sporting event, in the car or just lounging around.

Neck coolers may be a better alternative to rechargeable personal neck fans or handheld fans, which just blow already warm air onto you.

Cool down fast with a cold compress gel pack. Press these against your pulse points to cool your body quickly. You can also use them in a hot car while you wait for the air conditioning to kick in. You may have these already in your freezer or you can make your own.

How to cool body down using pulse points

Using your pulse points is one of the best ways to quickly cool your body with an ice pack or a cold towel.

Pulse points can be found:

  • At the back of the neck.
  • On the inside of your wrist. 
  • Where your arm bends. 
  • Behind the knee.
  • At your groin, just above the crease where the thigh meets the abdomen.
  • At the top of the foot. 
  • At the inside of your ankle.

Placing a cool towel or gel pack on one or several of these areas for 10-15 minutes will help you cool down fast.

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Homemade swamp cooler 

A fan is good, but sometimes you need a little more fire power to help you cool down when the temperatures are rising. Adjusting your thermostat can be costly. Instead, consider making a homemade air conditioner or swamp cooler.

You’ll need: 

  • A container and lid. 
  • Insulation. 
  • PVC pipe. Using elbow brackets makes it easy to adjust the direction of the airflow.
  • Fan. 

Watch this video to see how to make a homemade air conditioner.

Insulate a large container or use a cooler that’s already insulated. One method is to stack two containers or buckets and place insulation between them.

To make a DIY air conditioner/swap cooler:

  1. Trace the PVC pipes and the fan on the lid. 
  2. Use a serrated knife to cut the sections. You want it to be a tight fit. For the areas with the PVC pipe, don’t cut the circle out completely. Instead, mimic the opening where you’d put a straw through a lid. This will help hold the PVC pipe in place. 
  3. For the ultimate cool, place frozen jugs of water or ice bags inside the container.TIP: Using jugs or something similar will reduce the watery mess when the ice melts. It's also easy to refreeze and use again. 
  4. Turn the fan on and enjoy! 

You can seal the edges of the fan with tape if you want, but it’s not necessary to enjoy a chill.

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