03 Jul Tips to beat the heat: Part II

There are many things you can do to help beat the heat in your home besides just continue turning up the air conditioning higher and higher.
The heat has definitely been turned up this summer across the country, especially in the Southwest. In order to keep yourself from boiling over this is the second of a two-part series with tips to help you beat the heat:
1. Close the curtains – Block the sun’s rays by making sure to close curtains and blinds. This can reduce the amount of heat that gets into your home by as much as 45 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. White is the best color curtain to block the sun.
2. Regularly service your A/C – Make sure your air conditioning is working properly by
cleaning or replacing the filters in a room unit or the central air conditioner about once a month in the summertime. People who have central air-conditioning should have the ducts checked for leaks.
3. Take a spray break – Give yourself an occasional “spritz” by keeping a spray bottle in the refrigerator when it‘s especially hot out. As the water evaporates from your skin it will cool you off.
4. Be a fan of fans – Some people with air conditioners don’t realize that also using a fan will really help you feel cooler and it will allow you to run the A/C at a lower power.
Run them both at the same time. You can operate the air conditioner at a lower power and still feel cool if the fan is blowing over you. The air conditioner removes humidity from the air, while the fan helps evaporate sweat and moves heat away from your body.
When you leave a room leave the A/C on, but turn the fan off – fans don’t cool a room, they just make people feel cooler.
5. Take a vacation – If you really are tired of the heat and can take a vacation then do it. Sometimes a vacation is a great way to take a break from every day stresses by doing just that – taking a vacation. You’ve worked hard all year, so enjoy some leisure time.
FINAL THOUGHT – Please remember to never leave children, disabled persons, or pets in a parked car even for a short period of time when it‘s hot outside. Temperatures in a car can become life threatening within minutes. On an 80-degree day, the temperature inside a car even with the windows cracked slightly can reach 100 degrees in less than 10 minutes.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. Consult a doctor before making any significant changes in your exercise routine or diet. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com