by Brian Lamacraft

Created on: July 19, 2010

No one likes it when the temperature rises too high and a heat wave lasts for days and days. Thankfully we can use air conditioners to keep our homes cool. Sometimes these machines break down which can make life difficult during a heat wave for people. There are some things you can do to keep cool if your air conditioner breaks down during a heat wave.

Doors and Windows

Open your doors and windows during the coolest parts of the day such as the morning hours and after the sun goes down. If there’s a breeze this will help to cool your home down. If you open windows during the high heat of the day make sure you have drapes, blinds or something else covering the window so the full blast of heat from the sun doesn’t come into the house. You can buy blinds that you can install outside on a deck in you live in an apartment for example, that can lower the temperature by several degrees and help keep your home cooler. Try using fans an locations in your home such as near doorways to blow cooler air into your home once the sun goes down and move them periodically to cool other areas of the home. If you have a basement move to the basement since heat rises and the basement will be cooler.

Stay Hydrated

Without any air conditioner you will sweat more and lose fluids rapidly so it’s important to stay hydrated. While pop, juice and cold beer may sound like a good idea they will dehydrate you at a faster pace. Plain cold water is best for hydration during a heat wave. Try to drink water at regular intervals to keep your body temperature down. If you drink alcohol be sure to drink one glass of additional water with each drink you consume. If you have small children make sure they are drinking more water too.

Seek Shade and Water

If it is too hot in your home with your air conditioner it may be time to seek shade and water if you live close to lakes or the ocean. Swimming or sitting in the shade will help to keep you cooler and you will avoid heat exhaustion. Be sure to continue to drink water when you are outside because you will still dehydrate at a rapid level during an extreme heat wave. Public pools, fountains and other areas are great for keeping cool or just turn on your sprinkler and run through to cool off.

Shower Often

You can keep cool by having frequent showers if you are feeling hot. Warm showers are actually better because it will promote sweating which will help cool your body down. Other things you can do include a cool cloth at the base of your neck or put your wrists under cold water. Keep a cold cloth nearby to wipe off your face or a squirt bottle to mist yourself and cool down.

Seek Air Conditioning Elsewhere

There are many other places you can go with air conditioning if yours breaks down including malls, restaurants or even your relatives if they are nearby. Sometimes a city will open up cooling centers for those who need air conditioning during massive heat waves so check with your local authorities to find ones near you. For people with breathing or heart conditions this is of particular importance since the heat can greatly aggravate these conditions.

Staying cool when your air conditioner breaks down can be difficult but it can be done with a little creativity. Our ancestors didn’t have this modern technology so we can cope without it although the air conditioner can make the heat wave that much more bearable.

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