beat the heat

[coldlightning]

last year i think it was, there was a bad heat wave across europe, which killed something like 10,000 people, i'm assuing mostly elderly. does anyone have any wilderness survival heat-beating tips that could also apply to an elderly person in the home? many can't afford AC, and fans don't help. i'm not elderly, but i have had, on occasion, to take frequent cold showers, and afterwords sit in front of the fan slugging down popsicles, lol.

[Justin Case]

last year i think it was, there was a bad heat wave across europe, which killed something like 10,000 people, i'm assuing mostly elderly. does anyone have any wilderness survival heat-beating tips that could also apply to an elderly person in the home? many can't afford AC, and fans don't help. i'm not elderly, but i have had, on occasion, to take frequent cold showers, and afterwords sit in front of the fan slugging down popsicles, lol.

That sounds pretty good to me the elderly that do not have AC should seek places that do,, Like a Library for example,, Here where I live, If the Power goes out there are several hotel/casinos here that have generators, as does the Senior center, Libraries, etc. we would go to such a place, in fact, we have gone to the casino and hubg out in the Keno lounge more than once when the power was out,

[Rick]

Using fans in temperatures above 90°F will not prevent heat related illness. I'd suggest suspending a wet towel in front of the fan. Evaporation should cool the air. A moist/damp bandana around the neck. Moving to the basement if you have one or any shaded location if you are in the woods. Lot's of water. Shun coffee and alcohol.

[hoosierarcher]

Actually drinking hot beverages helps cool you. That is why the British took up drinking hot tea in India. Now let me state you shouldn't drink too much and for every cup of hot tea drink 8 ounces of water. Also eating (actually the act of digesting what you've eaten) heats you up so for go eating more than very light meals.
Total immersion in cool water is the fastest way to bring core temperature down. If the ambient air humidity is over 50% your natural cooling mechanisms are inhibited. Fanning yourself with a hand fan actually works against you.
De-humidifiers in the basement with fans blowing the cool air down there up and another fan up stairs blowing out will help keep the whole house cooler by keeping. this will circulate dryer cooler air through the building.

[Alaskan Survivalist]

Shun coffee and alcohol.

Shun coffee and alcohol? I would rather live in Alaska! Oh, uh, nevermind...

[justin_baker]

If you are out in the bush and near water, take a longsleeve cotton shirt and get it soaking wet. This will help keep you cool. I always wear cotton long sleeves when rafting or kayaking or watever.

[oly]

Take a wet cloth and wave it in the air ( as Rick explained evaporation ) and put it around your neck and when the cooling effect stops repeat.
The best places are wear the arteries is closest to the skin, such as, neck, armpit, groin, and under the knees in order to cool the bloodstream.

[AdventureDoc]

Great tips here! My contribution would be to give a look at the person's mental status. Proper heat stroke is a medical emergency and very life threatening. The transition from "heat exhaustion":

•Body temperature less than 39 C (102.2 F)
•Presence of sweating
•Increased heart rate (>100 beats per minute)
•Normal mental status and awareness
•Flu-like symptoms may be present such as malaise/fatigue, vomiting and weakness

to full blown "heat stroke" is minor and can be hard to detect:

•Body temperature above 40.5 C (105 F)
•Presence of sweating, severe cases may have absence of sweating
•Increased heart rate (>100 beats per minute)
•Changes in mental status (confusion, disorientation)
•Difficulty walking
•Low blood pressure

Any changes in mental status, coordination, speech or thought process should be taken very seriously in the presence of high temperatures, in my opinion. Take a few minutes while cooling them off to run through a few questions about their name, birthdate, where they are, what they ate for breakfast, what is 4 x's 4, spelling the word WORLD, etc.

This info can help you work out if its a problem that might be fixable or a need for prompt treatment and evacuation from the bush. Just my thoughts! A great review can be found at eMedicine.

[coldlightning]

good advice all around. my sister, who is a big "golden Girls" tv show fan said the the mother froze her undies then took them out and wore them. omg can't stop hooting over that one. though, hmmm.....nahhh!...?maybe? heheheh!

[Rick]

Probably wouldn't be too bad after you stopped sucking in air.