Many emergencies are accompanied by a loss of electricity. In the summer this can cause real problems due to the high temperatures. Our air conditioners and swamp coolers won’t work without power. So how do you stay cool in the heat when the power is out?
There are quite a few things you can do with your home and yard before the power outage to make it more comfortable during the outage. Use energy efficient windows and doors, have proper insulation, and attic vents to allow heat to escape. Plant grass rather than concrete or rocks. Shade trees on the south side of your home will help keep it cool also.
While these ideas are helpful, they take time (sometimes years in the case of the shade trees), planning, and you have to own your home and property to be able to do any of them. So we’re going to assume you’re not a contractor or landscaper and you want to know what you can do today to keep cool whether you are renting an apartment or living in an old farm house on twenty acres. We’re also going to assume you’re not going to drive your air conditioned car to the air conditioned store, okay?
Here are thirteen great ways to stay cool when the power is out that anyone can do.
1. Stay inside or in the shade during the hottest part of the day. This is usually between about 11 am and 5 pm. Avoid being in the sun during these hours if you can.
2. Use the night’s cooler temperatures. Open your windows at night to allow the cooler air in. If you can open windows across the house from each other that allow the prevailing winds in, that will create a draft and speed up the process of getting the house cooled off. Then trap that cool air in before the sun hits your house the next morning. Close the windows and doors. Block the sun that comes through glass by closing curtains and blinds. You can also block windows with foil or other opaque material to keep the sun out.
3. Stay in cooler parts of your house. In larger homes the north side will have a lower temperature than the south side. Stay in your basement if you have one. Rooms with hard floors are cooler than rooms with carpet so stay in rooms with hard flooring like concrete, laminate, or tile.
4. Stay hydrated. Drink cooling drinks. Avoid excess sugar, caffeine, or alcohol.
5. Eat cool foods. Fruits and fresh veggies are excellent. The more your body has to work digesting a heavy meal, the more heat you are producing for yourself.
6. Cook outside. Use your barbeque, solar oven, camp stove, etc. outside. Cooking inside is just going to add to the indoor temperature.
7. Dress for the occasion. Natural fabrics like cotton, linen, silk, or some wools breathe better than synthetic fabrics like polyester, rayon, or lycra. Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing, especially if you will be out in the sunshine.
8. Get in the water–Run a cool bath and soak in your tub, take a shower, or cool off in a pool.
9. Wet a towel or other fabric and place it on your neck or other areas where your blood is close to the surface. Think pulse points–wrists, inner elbows, under arms, groin.
10. Wet your clothes and wear them wet. Re-soak when you dry off.
11. Use a spray bottle with water to mist your skin, hair, or clothing.
12. If you can get a breeze during the day, open enough windows to get a cross breeze in your house and place a wet towel in front of the window the air is coming in.
13. Use peppermint essential oil with any of the above water cooling techniques for additional cooling sensation. Add a couple drops to your drinking water, spray bottle, or wet towels.
Keeping cool in the summer heat is extremely important, especially if the electricity isn’t working and you no longer have your air conditioner available. Using some or all of these cooling techniques will help you beat the heat.
This post has been recorded as part of a podcast! Listen to it here.
Keep preparing! Angela
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Lawrence Muhr says
After living in Death Valley for nine years I will affirm that wet clothing helps. When driving without an a/c, I would wet a towel and drape it over my head, neck and shoulders. In the 1930’s people living in Boulder City, NV would wet sheets to sleep in and if the house had a flat roof, would sleep there. Stay hydrated!!!