As summer arrives, it’s important to stay cool and prioritise safety. Although the warm sunny weather is welcomed, keeping cool to avoid heatstroke and sunburn is key to staying healthy amidst the humidity.
Here are 10 ways you can keep cool this summer:
1. Staying Hydrated
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Staying hydrated is one of the most effective ways to keep cool in the heat. When you drink plenty of water, your body is better equipped to regulate its temperature through sweating, which is its natural cooling mechanism.
Also, staying hydrated helps prevent heat-related issues such as dizziness, fatigue, and dehydration, which can make you feel even hotter and more uncomfortable. By consistently drinking water and other hydrating fluids, you can keep your body cool, energised, and better able to handle the summer heat.
2. Wear Light Clothing
Loose clothing allows for better air circulation around the body, helping to wick away moisture and prevent overheating. Natural fabrics like cotton, linen, and bamboo are particularly effective, as they are breathable and gentle on the skin, reducing the likelihood of irritation or sweating.
Loose garments don't cling to the body, which can minimise the feeling of heaviness and discomfort that tight clothes feel in the summer.
3. Avoid Peak Sun Hours
Avoiding peak sun hours, typically between 10am and 3pm, is a great way to stay cool during hot weather. During these hours, the sun is at its highest point in the sky, and its rays are the strongest, increasing the risk of overheating.
By planning outdoor activities for early morning or late afternoon, when the sun is less intense, you can reduce exposure to extreme heat. This helps prevent overheating or heatstroke, and lowers the risk of sunburn and long-term skin damage.
Staying indoors or in shaded areas during peak hours allows your body to maintain a cooler temperature, ensuring you stay comfortable and safe.
4. Use a Cooling Cream
Using a cooling cream is a great way to cool yourself down from the heat.
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Napiers Chamomile & Peppermint Cooler Skin Cream is a hot weather cream for those prone to prickly heat and skin that gets overheated and itchy. Peppermint has a very cooling action on the skin, due to its counter-irritant effects it is useful for allergic reactions also. Chamomile is soothing and helps to reduce redness, swelling and tenderness.
5. Use Fans and Air Conditioning
Using fans or air conditioning is another way to stay cool in hot weather by directly lowering the temperature in your environment. Fans circulate the air around you which helps evaporate sweat from your skin, enhancing your body's natural cooling process. This creates a wind-chill effect that can make you feel cooler even if the actual air temperature remains the same.
Air conditioning actively reduces the temperature in a room by removing heat and humidity from the air. This creates a cooler, more comfortable environment, significantly reducing the risk of overheating.
6. Take Cool Showers
Taking a cold shower is a highly effective way to cool down, especially during sweltering conditions. The immediate exposure to cold water lowers your body temperature by directly cooling the skin, the temperature drop triggers a constriction of blood vessels near the surface which reduces heat flow from the core of your body to your skin.
The shock of the cold water can invigorate and refresh you, making you feel more comfortable and alert.
7. Eat Light Meals
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Eating light meals can be a great way to stay cool, especially during hot weather. Heavier, hot meals often require more energy and time to digest, which can increase your body's internal temperature and make you feel overheated.
Light meals—such as salads, fruits, and vegetables—are typically easier to digest and can help maintain a lower body temperature. These foods often have high water content, which contributes to hydration and further aids in cooling.
8. Stay in the Shade
Staying in the shade is a highly effective way to keep cool, as it reduces direct exposure to the sun. By seeking shaded areas under trees, awnings, or umbrellas, you create a cooler microenvironment, as shaded areas are typically several degrees cooler than direct sunlight.
Staying in the shade helps to minimise the need for your body to sweat excessively, which can further contribute to staying comfortable and preventing dehydration.
9. Keep Blinds Closed
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By blocking out direct sunlight, closed blinds prevent solar heat gain from warming up your indoor space. This simple step helps maintain a more consistent and comfortable indoor temperature, reducing the need for air conditioning and lowering energy costs.
Using shades or curtains with reflective or insulating properties can further enhance this cooling effect, making your living space cooler and more energy-efficient.
10. Lightweight Bedding
Use lightweight bedding and consider using a cooling pillow or mattress pad to ensure a comfortable night’s sleep. Lightweight bedding, made from breathable materials like cotton or linen, helps to enhance airflow and wick away moisture, preventing the buildup of heat during the night.
Similarly, cooling pillows and mattress pads are designed with advanced materials that dissipate heat and regulate temperature, ensuring a more comfortable sleep environment. These cooling products often feature gel-infused or phase-change materials that actively absorb and release heat, further enhancing your ability to stay cool.