Teri Ann

Teri Ann

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Cool Tips For You and Your Pets This Weekend & Through The Heat Wave!

It's HOT and you need to stay cool - here are some great tips on doing just that!

Here's 5 tips on how to stay cool without air conditioning.

  1. Keep out sunlight. ...
  2. Utilize fans properly. ...
  3. Drink lots of water. ...
  4. Use cold washcloths. ...
  5. Eat cool foods (salads and fruits) and avoid alcohol.

Keep out sunlight  

About 76% of the sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows turns into heat and raises the temperature in your home, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). This is called solar heat gain.

Close the curtains or blinds

This is especially important on windows receiving direct sunlight — though the effectiveness can depend on the type and color of the material. 

Use shutters, shades, or awnings 

Exterior shutters and shades are most effective at reducing solar heat gain, according to the DOE. Shades are typically fabric or vinyl and the material may have openings that allow some visibility through the window. The larger the openings, the less protection from solar gain. 

Apply high-reflectivity window film

Window filmscan be useful if you don't want to block views since they are semi-transparent, or on windows that are difficult or expensive to fit with other treatments. 

Utilize fans properly

Fans can't lower the temperature ofan entire room— that's because the electricity driving the fan turns directly into heat. However, fans can create a wind chill effect, so you feel cooler. Basically, when a fan blows air around, it helps sweat evaporate from your skin, which cools you down. 

Drink lots of water 

Frequently drinking water is one of the best protective measures against heat-related illness. That's because your body needs water to effectively deal with hot temperatures.  When you get too warm, your body starts to sweat. The evaporation of your sweat cools the skin, which helps to cool down your whole body. How much water you're supposed to drink a daydepends on your weight. You can divide your weight in half to figure this out — if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink at least 75 fluid ounces every day, which is about 9 eight-oz cups. 

Use cold washcloths 

Applying a cold, damp cloth directly to your skin can help lower your temperature.The Mayo Clinic recommendsplacing it on your pulse points — such as the back of your neck, under your armpits, on your wrists, or groin. In these areas, your blood vessels are close to the surface of your skin, meaning the cold will extract more heat from your body and bring your temperature down more quickly. 

Prepare a cold washcloth by:

  • Wetting a towel with cool water
  • Squeezing out excess water, so that the towel is damp
  • Leaving it in the refrigerator — the longer you leave it, the colder it will be

If you use ice packs, make sure to never apply ice directly to the skin, as this can result in a burn. Instead, ensure it is wrapped in a towel or a blanket so there is a barrier between the ice and your skin. And never apply it for long periods — thegeneral rule of thumbis no more than 20 minutes every two to four hours. 

Although it can give temporary relief, taking a cool bath or shower actuallyincreases our core temperature. Your skin temperature falls and you'llfeelcooler, but the cold water results in less blood flow to the skin, so you'll actually keep more heat inside. 

As counterintuitive as it might seem, warm showers — with a water temperature of about 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit — can actually keep us cooler by increasing blood flow to the skin, allowing more heat to escape the body. 

Eat cool foods and avoid alcohol

Here are five expert-recommended foods and drinks to cool yourself down:

Salads

Vegetables contain lots of water, which can help keep you cool. Lettuce, for instance, is 95% water and cucumber is 96% water.

In addition, salads require no cooking. Any food that doesn't require heat to prepare is better — for example, the CDCadvises againstusing your oven to cook, since it can make you and your house even hotter. 

Watermelon

Not only is watermelon a summer staple for picnics and barbecues, but it's also 90% water. 

"The pink flesh contains vitamins C and A and the antioxidant lycopene-which helps in protecting you from the sun too," saysTanya Zuckerbrot,a registered dietitian in New York City. "This is the perfect snack to cool off and replenish electrolytes that are lost as you sweat in the sun."

Mint

Fresh mint can be grown in the garden and provides an instant coolingsensation. It's a zero-calorie addition that will freshen any drink or snack.

Hot Peppers

"Ironically, spicy foods are a great way to beat the heat," Zuckerbrot says. "Eating something that will cause sweating, nature's way of cooling us down, will allow you to withstand the sun." Sweating can lead to dehydration, though, so make sure to consume substantial water throughout the day.

Non-alcoholic beverages

"Skip the margaritas and mojitos," saysKaren Ansel, MS, registered dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "A summertime cocktail might seem like just the thing for a warm evening, but too much alcohol can cause your body to lose water." 

When to be concerned about heat illness

If you're unable to keep yourself cool with these strategies, you may develop the symptoms ofheat exhaustion, which, if left untreated, can turn intoheatstroke— a serious medical emergency that can lead to organ damage or death without immediate attention. 

When temperatures are high, such as during aheat wave, you may also want to check in more frequently on young children under the age of four, as well as older people above the age of 65, because they are more susceptible to heat-related illness.

KEEPING PETS COOL DURING A HEATWAVE!

We all love spending the long, sunny days of summer outdoors with our furry companions, but being overeager in hot weather can spell danger. To prevent your pet from overheating, take these simple precautions provided by ASPCA experts:

  • Visit the vet for a spring or early-summer checkup.Make sure your pets get tested for heartworm if they aren’t on year-round preventative medication.
  • Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give themplenty of fresh, clean waterwhen it’s hot or humid outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful not to over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.
  • Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.
  • Animals withflat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
  • Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. Not only can it lead to fatal heat stroke, it is illegal in several states!
  • Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool—not all dogs are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats. Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from his fur, and try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals.
  • Open unscreened windows pose a real danger to pets, who often fall out of them. Keep all unscreened windows or doors in your home closed, and make sure adjustable screens are tightly secured.
  • Feel free to trim longer hair on your dog, but never shave your dog: The layers of dogs’ coats protect them from overheating and sunburn. Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat. And be sure that any sunscreen or insect repellent product you use on your pets is labeled specifically for use on animals.
  • When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close to the ground, your pooch’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.
  • Commonly used rodenticides and lawn and garden insecticides can be harmful to cats and dogs if ingested, so keep them out of reach. Keep citronella candles, tiki torch products and insect coils of out pets’ reach as well. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you suspect your animal has ingested a poisonous substance.
  • Remember that food and drink commonly found at barbeques can be poisonous to pets. Keep alcoholic beverages away from pets, as they can cause intoxication, depression and comas. Similarly, remember that the snacks enjoyed by your human friends should not be a treat for your pet; any change of diet, even for one meal, may give your dog or cat severe digestive ailments. Avoid raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate and products with the sweetener xylitol. Please visit our People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets page for more information.
  • Please leave pets at home when you head out to Fourth of July celebrations, and never use fireworks around pets. Exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns or trauma, and even unused fireworks can contain hazardous materials. Many pets are also fearful of loud noises and can become lost, scared or disoriented, so it’s best to keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area of your home. 

For other ways to help, download and share our hot weather safety infographic to alert others of the dangers your pets may face during the summer.


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