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- How to be Extremely Hot
This morning, I read a headline (and nothing more, whoops) about the U.S.-American Olympic athletes who will be traveling to Paris with the seasonâs hottest new accessory: an AC unit. In a move to host a more environmentally sustainable Olympic month, the Paris Games organizing committee declared that the Olympic Village will not only give athletes beds made out of cardboard but also that their dwellings will not have air conditioningâjust fans.
âAs you can imagine, this is a period of time in which consistency and predictability is critical for Team USAâs performance,â US Olympic and Paralympic CEO Sarah Hirshland said. âIn our conversations with athletes, this was a very high priority and something that the athletes felt was a critical component in their performance capability.â Woof.
Weâre in the middle of a heat wave here in New York City. The high temperatures that hit Boston earlier this week have successfully crawled down the East Coast. My Apple Weather App tells me weâre eight degrees centigrade above average temperatures today. My ancient AC unit, yellowing from years of distress and probably nicotine exposure (not my own), is looking down at me right now. Iâve just unplugged it (because I canât reach the dials to turn it off). This will probably be the hottest summer itâs ever had to work. And, as many people say when they speak of the status of our planetâs climate, this will probably be the coolest summer it will work ever again, that is, of course, if it makes it through whatever this year brings.
When I lived in Abu Dhabi, I subsisted on AC. Some days, when it was slightly cloudy because of an incoming sand storm or because the clouds had been seeded, Iâd crank the AC down as far as the little electric control screen would allowâfourteen degrees centigradeâ, put on one of three sweaters that crossed the Atlantic with me, and pretend I was elsewhere. How might I have lived if I didnât have access to centralized AC there? How might I live if I didnât have chunky cooling systems plastered onto my walls or hanging out of my window today?
First, know the symptoms of heat illness: Mild heat illnesses include heat rash, swelling in the hands and feet, muscle cramps, and heat syncope or a fainting episode after standing too long or getting up suddenly. People with heat exhaustion have more severe symptoms, which could include headache, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Heat stroke, which can be caused by exposure to extreme heat or strenuous exertion in high temperatures, is less common but much more dangerous. The hallmark signs are a core body temperature above 104 degrees and confusion, seizures, or other mental status changes in the context of extreme heat exposure.
Second, wear loose-fitting clothes (woohoo!), cover your head and face with a wide-brimmed hat, and keep your skin wet. That means grabbing a wet cloth and a bucket of ice and periodically placing the damp cloth over your face, on the back of your neck, and wiping down your arms and legs. Apply sunscreen, as always.
Third, if you experience any symptoms of heat illness, go somewhere cool and drink hydrating liquids. That doesnât mean grabbing another iced latte to slurp through an eco-friendly straw. It means water. Remember that âjust because you donât feel thirstyâ doesnât mean you donât need waterâhumans need between two and three liters of water a day, and when we find ourselves in conditions of extreme heat, we need more. If youâre really dehydrated and feeling sick, sports drinks or water with salt tablets will help restore electrolytes like sodium that you lose by sweating and that are needed to maintain fluid balance. And, of course, get yourself in the shade, into an air-conditioned space, or, if possible, into cold water, be it a shower or a natural body of water.
Finally, if youâre experiencing any symptoms of heat illness and youâre not feeling better after doing the above, go to an emergency room.
Stay safe out there, hotties. The tan wonât be worth it if you feel sick. The party wonât be fun if youâre fainting or rash-ing.
xx
