Summer is the hottest season of the year. It happens after spring and before autumn. The temperature of the planet rises higher during this season. During this season, there longer days and shorter nights. The highest recorded temperature on Earth was 56 °C or 134.1 °F, recorded by the World Meteorological Organization on July 10, 1913. This study was conducted at Furnace Creek in California.
During this season, keeping ourselves hydrated is the most important thing. Keeping your health in check during summer is essential to avoid heat-related diseases such as:
1. Heatstroke
Heatstroke is a common condition during the hottest season of the year. It is caused by the overheating of the body, which results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures. People who suffer from heatstroke have temperatures rising to 104 °F or 40 °C and are taken to the hospital right away.
It takes about 1-2 days before they can leave the hospital. In most cases, complete recovery from the effects of heatstroke on the body organs can take 2 months or more.
2. Dehydration
As mentioned earlier, dehydration is one of the most common conditions that an individual can suffer during summer. Dehydration can result in shock and even death. That’s why more people should take this matter seriously.
An average person needs to drink much water: 3.7 liters of water for men and 2.7 liters for women. During summer, people should drink a few more cups above the average water limit to make up for the lost water in their body exerted through breathing and sweating.
Things to Do to Stay Cool in Summer
Everyone wants to feel relaxed during this season, especially since we consider it our vacation season. But most people don’t feel like relaxing because of the hot temperature and the humidity of the place. To make the most of your summer, here are some things you can do:
1. Stay in air-conditioned places
Nothing beats the summer heat than a well-conditioned room. During summer, most of the households have ACs to feel refreshed. Before summer comes, you need to check your AC system to see if it needs repair and maintenance. You need to make sure that you’ll have a well-conditioned AC to help you and your family stay cool during summer.
2. Take a warm shower
It might sound ridiculous to some people that taking a warm shower can help you cool down during summer, but this fact is proven to be effective. Taking a cold shower during the warm season might help your body cool down for a few minutes, but you’ll feel boiling again, making you take another shower and leading to increased water bills.
Taking a warm shower will leave a warm sensation on your skin, increasing blood flow and heat loss from the body.
3. Cold Treats
Summer is the best time to eat ice cream. You can also make your own smoothie to help your body feel refreshed. There are a lot of tips online that teach you the best ways to make a smoothie. There are also tips on making your own ice cream so that you won’t have to rush to the grocery store to buy more.
Home Designs to Cool Your Home During Summer
We don’t really expect people only to do something that will keep them refreshed. Most people think ahead and build their home that is perfect for any season, especially summer. Here are three home designs to help your home stay cool in summer:
1. Roof Ventilation
Most houses now install roof vents to have a perfect flow of cool air from outside. But planning a ventilation system is not easy since there are many factors to consider. Most families ask professionals to help them install a well-ventilated roof vent.
Roof vents act the same way as two open windows on the opposite side of the house. They carry cold air from the outside, blow it into the home, and carry the hot air outside.
2. Thermal Mass
A thermal mass is another design for homes that act as a thermal battery. This is very useful during the summer since it absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night to keep the home comfortable. What’s great about a thermal mass is that it works both during summer and winter in two different ways with the same goal: keeping the house comfortable for the family.
3. Right Paint Color
A study from the Department of Energy (DOE) says that paint colors determine your home’s temperature. Dark colors absorb 70-90% of heat from the sun and transfer it into the home. This situation is similar to people wearing black clothes during hot weather.
They will feel hotter than anyone because dark colors do not reflect the sun’s rays but absorb them instead. Choosing lighter colors will help your home stay cool.
The sun isn’t the only thing that we avoid during summer. We should also avoid heat-related diseases and bad home design to make the most of our summer vacations.
