Barrhead is getting quite the taste of summer; a mouthful even. With the heat the province has been experiencing during the past two weeks, it’s important to know how to stay cool and safe. We don’t want anyone passing out from heat stroke or suffering unbearable sunburns.
The list of activities to stay cool in the summer is endless. Water balloon fights, dashing through sprinklers, jumping in lakes or rivers, and creating your own slip-and-slide are all valid choices. However, if you aren’t feeling quite that ambitious, there are simpler ways to survive the heat.
Keeping yourself hydrated is important, especially when you’ve been sweating buckets outside in the sun. As tempting as it may be though, that cold beer isn’t necessarily the best beverage choice on a hot day. Alcohol actually dehydrates you more than anything.
Children can be a challenge when it comes to staying hydrated. Who wants to stop and drink a glass of water when the sunny afternoon is calling their name? Try frozen juice boxes. After freezing, cut the top off and they are essentially the same as a popsicle, without the sticky mess.
If you or your children play outdoor sports, a water bottle can be quite unfulfilling. Bring a spray bottle with water and spray your face after the game for some quick refreshment.
Worried about your canine companion roasting while playing in the backyard with the rest of the family? Dump some water in a bowl along with a few of your furry friend’s favourite toys and treats, then freeze it. Now you have a block of ice filled with dog biscuits and chew toys, a cold treat that will not only keep your puppy hydrated, but entertained for hours.
Sunscreen, sunscreen, and more sunscreen. Not only are burns terribly bad for your skin, they’re also extremely uncomfortable. If you’re one of those unlucky people who ends up looking like a lobster, there are ways to ease the pain. As gross as it sounds, applying cold tea helps. If you don’t feel like washing yourself with a wet teabag, anything with aloe vera works too.
Although this should apply to any season, switching off the TV, computer, and any lamps helps avoid giving off extra heat in your house. Taking your cooking outside helps too. It is barbecuing season, isn’t it?
If you’re someone who enjoys a refreshing bowl of fruit, that very same fruit is probably just as tasty after being in the freezer for a few hours. Not only are frozen berries a great snack to eat by themselves, they’re also good to throw in yogurt, ice cream, and smoothies for a little extra coolness.
Sometimes it isn’t until after the sun sets when the real battle begins. Trying to sleep when you’re just plain hot is never a pleasant experience. To begin with, a small bedside fan can never hurt.
For those folks who need some kind of blanket on them in order to sleep, slumber can be quite the challenge. Leave only the bare necessities on your bed: one plain, light sheet should do the trick. There’s nothing better than crawling into a cool cotton-sheeted bed after a long hot day.
Unfortunately, sometimes even that blissful feeling of cool sheets evades us and we have to take things to the next level. Never hesitate to take those sheets straight to the freezer and pop them in for an hour or two before you go to bed.
If all else fails, close your eyes and imagine you’re on a mountain in the snow. At least your mind will be cool.
