How do you beat the summer heat?

[CCHT_Ben]

Hey all, quick question for everyone. It is mid july in Michigan, and we have been fighting summer heat with heat indexes near 100 degrees. Many people in my clinic have been coming in around 5 to 6 kilos over dry weight due to the large fluid intakes to stay cool. We have handed out paperwork and had plenty of face time talking to pts of the dangers of it, but it is not doing much to thwart it. How do you guys beat the summer heat without overdoing it? I would love some new ideas to give to my patients, maybe a new line of thought that i just cannot think of. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

[galvo]

I'll read the replies with interest as I sit here with the wind off the snow keeping the temp to a balmy minus 4!

[cariad]

I'll read the replies with interest as I sit here with the wind off the snow keeping the temp to a balmy minus 4!

You are on form today, galvo. Tropical climes must agree with you!

[jbeany]

Frozen grapes and other frozen fruit are better than ice cubes for quenching thirst.  I used to keep metal spoons in the fridge to suck on, too.  That's really diet friendly.  Also, if they have no AC, tell them to put the ice in front of a fan, not in their mouths. They should be cooling from the outside in, not the other way around.    Keep a spray bottle of ice water to mist over faces, heads, hands, and feet.   Put cold towels on the back of your neck.  Take a shower or bath in cold water.  There are plenty of places that have AC that you can get into for free - a couple hours in the library is better than chugging fluid non-stop.  Find the schedule for the local court house and watch some hearings.  (Both safer than a mall, since there's nothing to buy!)  Afternoon movies are good too, but only if they stay away from the salty popcorn.

Heck, it's Michigan - go sit a lawn chair in the nearest lake, put up an umbrella for shade, and sit in the water up to your chin.  There's a lake every 7 miles in most of this state, after all!  (I'm in GR - it's been brutal the last few weeks, hasn't it?)

[kit78]

Get a water bra and put it in the freezer...  all joking aside I do ice or have a Popsicle, run fans.  I'm not outside much but frozen grapes do help.  If you are really thirsty try chewing QUENCH gum found at sporting stores or online at Amazon.  The gum works great!!!!!!!!!!

[cassandra]

Put your feet in a bowl of lukewarm water.

     

[ChrisEtc]

Slurpees.  They're mostly ice and they're tasty.  Much better than drinking cold fluids though they do have phos.  A cold slurpee on a 100 degree day hits the spot.