How to stay cool without air conditioning

In South Africa, many of us could find ourselves without electricity at times over the summer because of load shedding. This means that we won’t be able to use fans, air conditioners and other electrical cooling devices when power cuts kick in, unless we are making use of a generator or inverter. Whether you’re without power or trying to save money during extreme heat, it’s important to know how to stay cool without artificial cooling. Here are eight tips for staying cool when without electricity:

1.

When you’re hot and flushed, hydrating yourself is the first and foremost step to cooling down. If your body is struggling from the heat and needs to cool itself down, it can’t do that without enough water, since the body cools itself by sweating. You can also consume water by eating foods like cucumber and tomatoes, which are 96% and 95% water, respectively. If you’re looking for something sweeter, watermelon is 92% water.

Taking a cold shower or bath helps to cool your body by lowering its temperature. Remember to use water sparingly when you bath.

Place a cold, wet cloth or ice pack on your forehead, neck or wrists. Your neck and wrists are pulse points; they are areas where blood vessels are close to the skin. Placing a cold cloth on these areas will help you cool down more quickly.

If you have windows that face the sun’s direction in the morning and afternoon, close the curtains or blinds to block the sun from coming directly into your house and heating its inside. Close the doors of unused rooms to keep the cool air confined only to occupied areas of the house.

Install energy-saving light bulbs. Incandescent light bulbs tend to generate a higher temperature than LED light bulbs do.

Getting a good night’s sleep is difficult when you’re hot and sweaty. Try using light bedding, a lightweight blanket or even just a sheet to keep you cool. If you have access to a swimming pool, a safe river or the sea, go swimming! Remember that you need adult supervision as well as a good sunscreen.