Post #45 My Heat Wave Adapting

[post was delayed a little; my computer was not functioning quite as usual this weekend; perhaps re the CrowdStrike problems.]

Heat waves; heat domes; heat from local forest fires; more often. Have you increased your coping skills in response? I have been practising my budding skills for several years now. A heat dome in my home region a few years ago was a further wake up call.In past weeks I experienced “above-normal” seasonal temperatures. I’ve been furthering my heat awareness & human body thermoregulation knowledge.(& “Normal seasonal temps.” are in flux for many of us.) While I now experience high temps. that “feel like 34 or 35C”, I note that Dubai now experiencing “feels like 62C” heat. With higher humidity the extra factor that pushes to the higher, “feels like” temperatures.

Many might think “no problem really, I have air conditioning”. Will it be a problem if the electrical grid goes down (with grid overloaded), or a long term power outage after a storm? Some households (in detached homes) might want to look into a home generator as further insurance of power continuation. And/or learn *other heat-coping skills*.

In a heat event, I now keep a small clean spray bottle of cold water handy (I got mine from a dollar store), & spray a little water on my arms, legs, in my hair, & on my cotton clothing periodically, for a cooldown.

& I sometimes take myself off to a nearby neighbourhood cooling centre to have a leisurely (air conditioned) coffee break.

& One of my best coping strategies for years: I bought non-toxic gel freezer packs from the dollar store (the kind one packs in a picnic/camping cooler). I keep them in my fridge freezer. I never place them directly against my skin, but wrap one in a buffer of an old facecloth, towel or pillowslip. Sitting during the day lately, I have a wrapped one under my feet. At night a gel pack fresh out of the freezer (inside a pillowslip) goes beneath my feet in bed (it wonderfully helps me fall asleep). A medium size one can stay cold all night.

Some colder food examples: an individual container of greek yogurt will get cold (semi-solidify) in about one hour in my fridge freezer. I no longer re-heat my second cup of morning coffee in the microwave; I drink it much cooler than usual. I eat pickled eggs kept in the fridge, instead of heat-cooked eggs. Hot weather treats.

Hotter days than before might be our lot for some years. I encourage you too to be creative in developing weather coping skills which might help you be much more comfortable.