Whew! How Do I Relieve This Summer Heat?
By Lynn Difley
Whew, it’s getting hot in many places, and even the best air conditioners in motor homes may not do the trick. You may also object to pouring a good chunk of your fuel budget into the generator to keep that air conditioner working while boondocking. So how in the world can you keep your cool in the dog days of August? If you are in a conventional home, you can take steps to improve your house’s insulation, but on the road, you will need to find other ways to cool down. Changing some of your habits will go a long way towards helping you cope with the temperature and avoid expensive solutions, such as running two air conditioners. One low-tech solution to reducing your body heat is to wear clothes in natural fabrics. Cotton, hemp and linen all breathe better than any synthetic fibers, and naturally act to wick moisture away from your body. They may not resist wrinkles as well, but if you’re staying cool, who cares?
Dine cool. Choose sandwiches, salads and refrigerated dishes rather than cooking. Not only does wrestling pots and pots on the stove heat up your body, it heats up your rig as well.
Drink up. And I don’t mean booze. Stay hydrated–plenty of water helps your body keep its natural cooling system functioning at peak efficiency. Stay away from alcohol or caffeine; go for the cooler water or diluted fruit juices. In the heat you will sweat more from normal activities, as well as from exercise, so drink even more water than you usually do to keep the hydration level topped off. Latest studies recommend cranberry juice, which reduces incidence of urinary tract infections, as well as helps keep arteries young, protects against some cancers and improves brain function. Have a glass of chilled cranberry juice to cool yourself off as well as improve your health.
Use cool water on the outside as well as inside. Don’t use water just for drinking; use it for cooling off the body. Spritz yourself with a spray bottle of water. For the ultimate refreshment, keep your squirt bottle in the refrigerator. Hot tired feet? Soak them in some cold water. Take a bandana, dampen it and tie it around your head, a rakish look that keeps you cool in both meanings of the word. A cool shower also helps to bring body temperature down, just a quick one will avoid water waste and drip-drying heightens the effect. My mother used to dunk her head under the sink, shake like a dog and let her wet head cool her off.
Get out. When your rig is parked in the sun and the day is at its hottest, head for a cool spot. A library or movie theatre is a good choice, enjoy the afternoon in a cool air-conditioned environment, and wait for the shade to move back over your spot. Even better, head for the lake, river, ocean, or creek, and dunk yourself in nature’s air conditioner, a luscious body of cool refreshing water. Stay cool
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}
Florida water. Mix a batch in an ice chest, soak some towels in it and wipe your face and arms for an instant cool down.
How about when traveling with pets , i can’t take them to the movies or out to lunch.- OK so the cat is loving the heat, but the dogs are panting so hard they are rocking the RV.
Buy a little plastic swiming pool that you blow up. Put in the shade and let the dogs get wet.
I bought a couple of tower fans and sit them right over the AC air outlet (where the air enters the cabin) to blow air over my invalid spouse and into the bathroom. I have a medium-sized Rottweiler and she usually lays right in front of the outlet that pushes AC air out from under the sink; she is highly indignant if asked to share.