How to Stay Cool in a Heat Wave Even without Air Conditioning
Experts say cooling corners, public cooling sites and hydration can reduce heat illness when air conditioning is unavailable.
- Health experts shared heat-safety tips to manage rising temperatures without air conditioning, noting that safety depends on more than just temperature. Experts use the WBGT, which includes humidity and wind, to assess risk.
- Because the body needs a reprieve from heat, overnight temperatures are particularly dangerous. Ashley Ward, director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke University, notes that when overnight temperatures don't drop below 75 degrees F, heat illness and mortality risk increases significantly.
- Ward suggests creating a "cool corner" to sleep in if you lack air conditioning. Stay hydrated, use fans in humid areas, or apply cold water to your neck and armpits to help regulate body temperature.
- Communities often provide cooling centers for those without relief. According to the National Council on Aging, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program can help eligible individuals purchase window air conditioning units.
- Workers in states like California and Washington may have heat-safety protections, though enforcement remains challenging. Bharat Venkat, director of the Los Angeles Heat Lab, notes that many workers lack control over their breaks and environment.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Specialists in thermal comfort and energy efficiency share simple and economical strategies to cope with the hottest days of the year
Associated Press News
How to stay cool in a heat wave even without air conditioning
Heat can be dangerous, but health experts say there are ways to manage the threat. Scorching temperatures, especially combined with high humidity, pose risks particularly for children, older people and those with certain health conditions.
Proper ventilation, shading, and the use of fans will help households weather the heat.
I tested these 5 hot country tricks during the heat wave: my house remained cool without air conditioning The heat wave fell on the city in a few days, and my south-facing apartment quickly turned into an oven. No air conditioning, only a few tired fans and nights when the thermometer refused to go down. When I thought about my stays in Spain, I wanted to test their anti-canicle reflexes at home. For three days of heat wave, I then modeled my li…
Learn about an old German trick that uses frozen water and the laws of physics to lower the temperature in small spaces.
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