We're not setup for hot weather, so we resort to all kinds of things to keep us and our homes cool.

Apart from ordering fans from Amazon, what else have you been doing to keep cool?

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[–] 21 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (15 children)

Sorry to crash this as an American, but we have months of 45°C temperatures here in Texas with a really humid climate, so I might be able to offer some advice.

One summer my AC was out entirely for about a month. I survived by positively soaking a sleeveless tank in ice water and sitting around in that until it wasn't cooling me anymore and then soaking it again.

I recently found some ice packs that go around the neck, and they really work miracles for lowering one's body temperature. I always keep one in the freezer now for when I get back from a walk.

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  • [–] 15 points 4 months ago (1 child)

    FWIW, in all my years in kitchens across the globe, one of the few culturally organic commonalities across them all was the tradition of taking a kitchen towel; arranging a long pile of ice cubes across its center and rolling it up tightly; securing with twist-ties, rubber bands, butcher string, etc. (even butterfly clips!) Then, draping it across the back of the neck, and tucking the ends into either side of the collar.

    Boom! Instant cool, refreshing relief, straight to the dome via the pulminary system. (it cools the neck first, and shortly after, the head and chest) Bonus: the eventual drench as it melts isn't a bad thing considering you're already sweaty AF and helps cool you off too!

    Plus, it makes you look like you're obviously working really hard —what, with your uniform so saturated and all, from you neck down your back. 🤪

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  • [–] 2 points 4 months ago (12 children)

    I think you mean 35°C? 45°C is 113°F.

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  • [–] 11 points 4 months ago (5 children)

    We get regular temperatures in the south west, Arizona specifically, over 120°F. The summer I moved away it was 133°F for three fucking days.

    The local paper kept a count on the front page for how many days the temperature didn’t drop below 100°F, and that includes the overnight temp.

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  • [–] [S] 3 points 4 months ago

    I remember going to the office we have in Phoenix on a February (years ago...) and that was a hot day for me... and 1 of the locals came in to work with a jumper on 🤯🦞

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  • [–] 3 points 4 months ago (3 children)

    The hottest temperature ever recorded on earth was 130 degrees, in Death Valley. I think your thermometer might have been a little off.

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  • [–] 5 points 4 months ago (1 child)

    The official highest recorded temperature is now 56.7°C (134°F), which was measured on 10 July 1913 at Greenland Ranch in Death Valley, California, USA.

    https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/highest-recorded-temperature

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  • [–] 7 points 4 months ago* (2 children)

    He did not make any errors. Texas routinely gets over 40C all over the state. I have experienced it in Johnson City as well as in Houston

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  • [–] 2 points 4 months ago (1 child)
  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

    Those are the average highs. It can peak well above that for a given week.

    I live in northern US and have the opposite phenomenon. Average low in coldest month is 12F but we usually have about a week below 0F

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  • [–] 6 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

    Thanks, my estimate was a little bit off; I'm terminally America-brained.

    It's months of over 100°F to 110°F (38°C - 43°C) here, but it does spike up there, and the heat index does regularly get that high.

    Pretty much everyone here has AC though.

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  • [–] 4 points 4 months ago (1 child)

    No probs!

    I lived in Houston for a couple of years so I knew it was a bit off. I wouldn't have lasted my first summer if 45°C was normal!

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