Coping with the heat.

[Herman30]

In Finland we seldom have very high temps up to 30 C.
One summer when it was extremly hot I kept my windows closed and had some 5 degrees less inside than outside. Living on the bottom floor of a 3 storey buiding.

 

[Keith_Beef]

When everybody was working from home I was in the attic.

I fitted an Inkbird ITC-308 temperature controlled switch and put the probe outside of the attic window, with a rectangle of marine grade plywood with a 125mm diameter vent and an extractor fan turned to suck air into the attic whenever the temperature dropped below (IIRC) 24°C. The inside would be nice and cool when I started work at around 06h30; as the day got hotter I would remove the extractor fan and connect the output of a mobile air-conditioning unit.

I ran the air-conditioning unit again today to make sure that it still works; it's noisy but it keeps the room tolerably cool.

 

[Silverclaws2]

Also don't forget the electrolytes as electrolyte depletion has a role to play in staying cool, fit and healthy.

Edited to add ' to play '

 

[Toddy]

All youse opening windows when it´s hot outside; that´s a big error. You just let the heat in.

No, it creates a through draught if you do it right.
Look up Dog Trot house.

 

[Broch]

The barn we live in was built as a threshing barn - it's designed for the lightest breeze to blow through

Loose, light, clothing, move slowly if at all. Stay out of direct sunlight but, if you do venture out, stay covered. The typical Brit has not evolved to deal with the kind of conditions we're experiencing and, even if you don't burn, it's very dangerous for long term health. I cannot believe all the 'lobsters' that are appearing in the news saying how great this heat is

 

[Herman30]

To get draught there needs to be windows on two, opposite, walls. I have windows on only one wall so no through drought is possible. So for my appartment it is best to keep windows closed daytime and use a tower fan for cooling draught.

During hottest part of summer when going outside, the only parts of me that are not covered with clothing are my hands and my face. And face is shaded by wearing a boonie hat. Best boonie I have had is the one I currently have; the South African defence forces one. Wide brim and on top a thin wadding that suck up the sweat from top of my head and let it evapourate.

 

[Toddy]

@Broch
Every word of that is true round here too.
We joke about the Taps Aff thing the minute there's a gleam of sunshine, but honestly, scarlet and peeling is such a truly bad thing to do to our skin. I hate seeing sunburnt children. They're running around in shorts and ....not being racist or whatever.....but they're white; white children in a generally more overcast country, and they're scarlet across their brows and their shoulders and arms. Going to be a lot of sore kids I think.

 

[Herman30]

I fear the sun because my father got cancer on his earlobe. He has always been without head cover or at the most a cap that do not shade the ears. I do not want that for me.

 

[Silverclaws2]

I fear the sun because my father got cancer on his earlobe. He has always been without head cover or at the most a cap that do not shade the ears. I do not want that for me.

Ever since I quit the military I have outside worn a hat to have rather a large collection of hats of various types, the current a Tilley Hemp T5

 

[Toddy]

I worked outdoors in all weathers all year round.
I am fair skinned, lightly freckled, green eyes, fair bit of red in my hair. I do tan, but it takes time.
I have a scar on my left cheek. It's neat, tidy, cleanly done, but it's over two inches long and I am self conscious about it.
It was caused by a surgeon's scalpel; she removed a funny looking beauty spot that had smudged, and cut out a bit the size of an old half crown.
Turned out it was a pre cancerous lentigo, and she removed another from my scalp, one on my forearm and another on my knee, at the same time.

So, sunshine. Lovely stuff, and so very necessary not just to our physical health but our moods and emotions too.....and it needs care.

Britain used to be tree covered. We kind of evolved to suit that I reckon, even if we do use the water a lot. Think woodland edges.
I nip in and out of the shade. I enjoy the weather, but I don't lie on a beach baking in the sunshine.
I'm getting older, I don't want any more scars but this past week has been lovely here, and it's still only May

It's our world, we are very much part of it, but we're living longer and we know what causes damage these days. Enjoy, but don't be stupid about it.

 

[Falstaff]

It took a while, but Aussies have got it sorted now, kids from toddler stage learn to get covered in sunscreen and all have hats with shoulder length fabric at the back. Site guys are learning to cover up and take protection aswell.
Many years ago in Perth a Tasmanian nurse was telling me about how much melanoma they were seeing and cutting out due to excessive sun and the ozone hole.

 

[HorseGuy]

During hottest part of summer when going outside, the only parts of me that are not covered with clothing are my hands and my face. And face is shaded by wearing a boonie hat. Best boonie I have had is the one I currently have; the South African defence forces one. Wide brim and on top a thin wadding that suck up the sweat from top of my head and let it evapourate.

My most commonly worn sun hats are a Tilley T3 Wanderer (boonie style) and a Dorfman Pacific Outback hat. Both are great hats which work well and look cool but when it comes to pure outright functionality a Sunday Afternoons Adventure hat beats them both by a country mile.

Whenever I intend to spend all day out working in the field on a sunny day this is the only hat that I wear now. Nothing else seems to be able to keep my face and neck fully shaded from practically every angle you can imagine.

 

[Toddy]

I wear a UV40+ one of those too. Nothing expensive, pretty sure it's Korean though, and those folks really do do their sunblock stuff. They look whiter than we do, they don't even have the freckles

 

[Tengu]

Yes, my mother had skin cancer; Half a day in the sun, thats what did it.

It didnt kill her but it flared up again and again. At least 3 operations.

So; Total block.

 

[lou1661]

Feeling fortunate as I can open windows on the shaded side of the house and close windows and curtains on the sunny side. Changing the ventilation profile as the day goes by opening and closing doors. Outdoors it’s a hat with a brim, generally either a Rogue airhead or a bush hat. Cotton (preferably) or poly cotton shirts long sleeve with collars, I always have my sleeves rolled up but it’s nice to have the option if needed, and shorts. I did just get a cooling coat for one of the dogs from Amazon. Really impressed with how it cools.

Louis.