HEAT - The Joys of Scaffolding, Funeral Home Ads, and Splooting
[Disclaimer: I'm a paid sponsor for NONE of the products listed below, just a fan of them.]
I’m a Southerner and the child of an HVAC contractor; I spent summers on building missions in Central America and four years in Houston (residency) while also visiting my now husband who was an ex-pat in Singapore. I like to think of myself as a veritable expert on staying cool. Below are tricks I learned by watching my family (the side of the family not in the A/C business!) and people from other cultures and countries.
Before we get to it though, some science. In high heat, our bodies send water and salt to our skin’s surface. This exits our pores as sweat. The sweat then uses energy from our body heat to vaporize. So it’s the evaporation of sweat that cools us, not the sweat itself. But on very humid days, the air is too saturated to absorb those vapors. Now we aren’t cooling ourselves effectively, and unfortunately our bodies double down and sweat even more. This makes the heat even more dangerous and can lead to dehydration. So what is a sweaty New Yorker to do?
Hydration
Water is obviously important. If you find plain water boring, add cucumber, berries, mint, basil, citrus slices, etc.
Replacing some of the lost salt and other electrolytes from sweat is important too. LMNT is a nice option, but some people find it too salty. One stick makes 32 ounces.
Good old Gatorade balances the salt with sugar, so moderation is key: 8 to 16 ounces a day is plenty for most people.
Fruit juice is high in sugar, so I don't recommend it.
With any drink, the colder the better. Homemade ice pops are a great option too. Get creative!
MoMA Design Store
Foods with high water content are another option, especially for those who dislike plain water. Melons, strawberries, oranges, grapes, cucumbers, and celery are great sources. But not in a margarita or daiquiri…
Limit alcohol. It suppresses antidiuretic hormone (ADH), so your kidneys aren’t triggered to reabsorb water; fluids literally go straight through. Mocktails and non-alcoholic (NA) beers and wines are a good alternative, and they are far more mainstream and palatable than the O’Douls of yesteryear.
Contrary to popular belief caffeine is not dehydrating - in quantities typical for you. Just don't start drinking five cups of cold brew a day if you normally have two cups of coffee. Some wise Ticos taught me to drink hot coffee to cool off. It actually works on less humid days. The drink is hotter than your body temperature, so you are adding heat, but the increase in sweat (if it can evaporate) more than compensates for that heat. My husband swears the same is true for spicy food.
Thirst declines with age, so although cheesy, motivational water bottles can be helpful in achieving that 64-ounce goal. Clear urine is another good indicator that you're adequately hydrated.
Motivational bottle
The endless energy of children produces a lot of sweat that warrants repletion, but it also means they don’t want to stop for water. Adults should schedule a water break every 30 minutes during outdoor play.
A brief pause in the shade of a fire tower
Sun Avoidance
Parasols are quite effective at keeping us cool, especially when made of UPF-rated fabric.
My grandparents’ farm had two big beautiful oak shade trees out front, and that’s where we spent the
hottest parts of summer days.
Had to get one photo under the trees
Photo credit: Torrence Photography
Urban trees are also a great source of shade, and they improve air quality. Even scaffolding and areas with no set-backs become attractive in the summer.
It’s still best to avoid outdoors as much as possible between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM.
Outdoor Cooling
We do need to go outside at some point though. The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation provides loads of free pools, spray showers, and of course the ubiquitous open fire hydrants. Here is a great map that shows these plus nearby drinking fountains and even shady blocks.
As above, remind children to pause play every 30 minutes for hydration, shade, and a cooldown.
Keep babies in a cotton onesie, covered with a hat and stroller shade, plus sunscreen after 6 months of age.
Clothing and Body Cooling
For clothing fabric, follow the four Ls: lightweight, light-colored, loose, and less (to socially acceptable levels and with plenty of sunscreen!) Wicking material is nice too.
Spraying water on your skin is an easy hack. Better yet, put wet towels (or frozen!) on your head, forehead, neck, wrists, and chest. A cold shower helps too. You can stick your head in the refrigerator, but NOT WITH WET HAIR - this could trigger a vagal response, ie. passing out.
Paper fans work nicely indoors and out. We used them in my grandparents’ un-air-conditioned church. They had beautiful pastoral Bible scenes on one side and scripture (or ads for a funeral home) on the back.
Photo Credit: Wilmington Star-News
Indoor Cooling
Circulating air helps sweat evaporate, so ceiling, floor, and tabletop fans can help even if you don’t have air conditioning. Try a bowl of ice water in front of a tabletop fan. Opening windows once the sun has set is helpful too, and blackout curtains during the day keep rooms cool, albeit dark.
Avoid using the stovetop and oven when possible, or use them only at night. Try using small appliances instead, eg. toaster oven, air fryer, instant pot, slow cooker. Summer is also great for cold dishes like gazpacho and salads.
We sleep better when we are cool. Use cotton sheets and freeze your pillowcase.
If you’re really desperate, lie on the cold floor. Heat rises, plus concrete slabs and floors reduce body heat quickly. Animals know this too, and that’s why they sploot.
Squirrel splooting
Photo Credit: NYC Dept of Parks & Rec
House plants can reduce air temperature, especially ficus, palms, and mother-in-law’s tongue.
And eventually we do just get used to it. It’s not a pleasant process, but humans do tend to acclimate. Of course that’s not a reason to push yourself. Heat illness (both heat exhaustion and heat stroke) is a real threat. Here are two excellent resources describing what to look for and what to do in both adults and children.
If you don’t have a doctor to commiserate with every summer about how hot NYC has gotten, contact me. Stay cool, and Happy Splooting Season!
