10 simple solutions to deal with the heat wave and its consequences

For several years, most parts of the country have been affected by heat waves in the summer. Like other natural occurrences, heat waves can be very dangerous. Therefore, it is necessary to know more about the heat wave and get acquainted with the solutions to deal with its consequences and ways to stay cool in hot weather.

What is a heat wave?

A heat wave is a prolonged period of unusually high temperatures in an area. Of course, there is no universal standard about how much the temperature should increase during a heat wave. Each region has an average temperature in a certain period of time. In order for an area to be considered a heat wave, the temperature must be above the current average.

Usually, the heat wave lasts for a few days and during this period the temperature increases by 10 degrees or even more compared to the average.

A heat wave occurs when the air is stable, and it is usually caused by a high pressure system and subsiding air. This system prevents the air near the ground from moving upwards. This air subsidence acts like a cap, trapping the warm air of the Earth beneath it. If warm air doesn’t move up, it won’t rain, and no amount of change can prevent the air from getting warmer.

Children, elderly people and patients are more susceptible to heat illnesses. Of course, all people in situations where they do not take heat wave warnings seriously or are exposed to extreme heat more than they can tolerate, may get heat-related diseases, and these diseases can be extremely annoying.

Although extreme cold can be dangerous, if you are not careful and do not take proper measures to deal with it, heat wave can become a threat to life very quickly. In recent years, extreme heat has killed more people than any other weather event, including floods. Among natural events, the most human casualties in the last decade are related to heat.

Solutions to deal with the consequences of the heat wave

1. Drink water even if you don’t feel thirsty. Extreme heat causes more sweating and in this condition it is very important to compensate the lost fluids. If you don’t hydrate your body enough, your body heats up too much. Carry a bottle of water with you during the day and especially when you are outside your home, school or work so that you don’t get dehydrated.
2. Never leave children and pets alone in vehicles. If you leave pets alone at home, make sure you have enough water available for them and that the air in the house is cool.
3. If you can, stay indoors during the hottest hours of the day, i.e. between 10 am and 4 pm. Otherwise, try to reduce your time outdoors as much as possible and avoid vigorous physical activity. It is better to do activities that require being outdoors after 4 pm.
4. When outdoors, avoid direct sunlight as much as possible. You can use hats, umbrellas and sunscreens.
5. At the same time as using cooling devices, open the curtains to avoid direct sunlight.
6. Avoid alcohol, all kinds of soft drinks, especially energy drinks, coffee and other caffeinated drinks; Because the consumption of these types of drinks causes dehydration of the body. You do not need to consume any of these drinks during the heat wave.
7. Increase the number of meals and eat less at each meal. Instead of eating foods that contain simple carbohydrates, eat foods that are rich in nutrients, as well as foods that contain more water, such as fruits and vegetables.
8. Wear light, loose, breathable, light-colored clothing. If you are going to wear a hat, be sure to choose one that is made of breathable material. Tight clothes keep the heat in.
9. In family and friends, be careful of the elderly and those who are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. Also, pay more attention to people who cannot use cooling devices for any reason.
10. If you or someone around you experiences symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, feeling dizzy, fainting, headache, muscle cramps, headache, diarrhea, or vomiting, you should see a doctor.
11. If you feel overheated, cool down by placing wet washcloths on your wrists or neck, or take a cold shower. You can also fill a spray bottle with cold water or carry a cooling face spray. Splashing cold water or this spray on pressure points lowers body temperature.

How can you tolerate sleeping in hot weather when you don’t have cooling equipment?

You can take steps to increase the efficiency of cooling devices. You can make a cooling device yourself. You can cool the house without using air conditioners. But what can you do when you can’t sleep because of the extreme heat?

If you don’t have cooling devices at home or you can’t use these devices for any reason and you live in an area where the weather is very hot even at night in the summer, you can use the following solutions to sleep in this extremely hot weather.

1. Store a new pair of socks in the refrigerator.

When you have no choice, you are forced to do strange things. Although this strategy seems strange, research shows that cooling the feet is an effective way to reduce the body’s reactions to heat stress. Of course, if you are one of those people who cannot sleep with socks, you can use a pillowcase or a sheet that you have kept cool.

2. Drink enough water.

You must have heard a lot about dehydration before reading this article, but maybe this is new to you. Drink plenty of water before you get ready for bed. According to research results, dehydration is related to not having enough sleep. You need to stay hydrated enough to sweat, and it’s this sweat that helps keep you cool throughout the night.

3. Choose a suitable sheet.

Everyone knows that fluffy blankets or heavy quilts are not good options for summer. But maybe not everyone pays attention to how much the choice of sheets can affect the quality of sleep. Choose sheets for summer that are made of lighter and more breathable fabrics. Sheets made of natural fibers such as cotton, linen and bamboo are suitable options. Do not use wool or flannel sheets in summer.

4. Buy a good mattress.

If you sleep on a mattress that retains all your body heat, this mattress is not suitable for use in the summer. It is better to decide to buy a new mattress. Buy a mattress that is designed to keep you cool.

5. Take a cold shower before going to bed.

Maybe you have included a morning shower in your daily schedule to deal with the summer heat. It is better to change your schedule and take a cold shower right before you go to bed. This lowers your body temperature, and since the effect lasts for a relatively long time, you are more likely to get a good night’s sleep.

6. Place a bottle of frozen water under your pillow.

It’s not a complicated matter that putting ice in bed will help you stay cool. Of course, in order not to wake up in a wet bed, you need to use a suitable bottle that closes well. You should also keep in mind that when you want to put the bottle in the freezer, fill it only two-thirds of the way with water. If you fill the water bottle completely, it is possible that the bottle will burst due to the increased volume of ice.