To all my lovely tumblrinas living in Europe right now:
PLEASE be careful with these temperatures. It's going to be hot. So hot. Not 'feeling uncomfortable and will sweat too much' but legitimately 'potentially life-threatening' hot. And most places won't have a/c to cool buildings. This is actually worse than being outside in that temperature as at least outside you can get under a tree and still have wind. Inside, you'll be stuck with whatever airflow you can manage with windows (unless you have fans. If so, make judicious use of them!)
Yes, I know it's an American thing, but we do it for a reason. Shit is hot here and cold drinks are how you deal. Make iced tea, make iced water, make iced coffee. I don't care what you need to do, but hydrate like you've never hydrated before and make sure that shit is cold. It will help cool you from the inside.
2. Move as little as possible.
Long-haired people, tie it off your necks. Wear hats to keep the sun off your skin/face. Wide-brimmed is good. Stay in one place and don't expend energy. Even walking around your house will heat you up and get your blood pumping. This is bad.
3. Lay on the floor, specifically not carpet.
Your bathroom should have tile. Your kitchen should be a hard surface of some kind. When things get bad, stretch out on those hard surfaces. They'll be cooler than the rest of the area around you, and you very will could need that.
4. Prioritize your own health.
Your jobs probably don't have a/c, and you'll be expected to work anyway. Money makes the world go round and we all need it to live. But you can't work if you're dead/hospitalized and this is a very real possibility. Heat stroke doesn't care how old you are. I've seen 18yr olds used to these kinds of temps, pass out with heatstroke because they got all arrogant. Don't let this be you. Sit when you feel the need, if someone is super flushed with blood in the face, make them sit and rest. If your face feels extra hot, do the same. Do Not Play Around With Heat Stroke
If you can at all manage it, those can be very helpful in cooling you off. Don't dry your skin, air dry. That will help a little as well.
6. Set ice cubes in front of a fan
This is a cheap A/C and it will help. No, it won't be as good as you want, but any airflow - specifically cool air - will give you even a tiny bit of relief.
Seriously. You think you're drinking a lot? No you aren't, drink more. Your pee at all yellow? DRINK MORE WATER. The best and most effective way of cooling yourself down is going to be sweat. Don't deprive your body of the water it needs. DRINK.
Be careful my lovelies. Your health is all you have at the end.
Sincerely, an American born in the Deep South who has lived this every summer for two+ decades.
