Dress appropriately. Wear loose, breathable (think: cotton) clothing and footwear that won't leave your feet sweaty. Hats are also crucial for blazing hot weather, keeping you cool by providing shade. Sunglasses will protect your eyes from damaging UV rays.
Showering or bathing in cold water helps to stave off the blistering African heat. If you're a fan of hot bath water, you may want to skip that for now, for your sake. Cold baths not only keep your body temperature cool, but also help you sleep better at night.
Selective use of clothing and technological inventions such as air conditioning allows humans to thrive in hot climates. One example is the Chaamba Arabs, who live in the Sahara Desert. They wear clothing that traps air in between skin and the clothes, preventing the high ambient air temperature from reaching the skin.
Kept windows and doors shut at midday to keep hot air out. Delayed cooking, baking, and kitchen chores until the cooler evening hours. Opened windows at bedtime to let in the cool nighttime air. Blew fans across blocks of ice.
Architecture played a big role in keeping homes cool. By creating archways, large windows, and high ceilings, builders could funnel in outdoor breezes and create cross-ventilation. Porches built in the shade also gave people an area to cool off during the evening.
Beemon explained the tips and tricks used to cool down during hottest days of the summer in the 1800s, some of which included: Home owners kept all the windows and doors in the house open to keep the air moving. Carpets were pulled up during the summer and put in storage.
From 12.00 pm to 5.00, hide inside in an air-con or well-ventilated place, or stay in the shade. A library or a shopping mall is a good option if you are on the go. To cool down from sweating, pack a cooling towel in your backpack.
Sun hats and umbrellas are also absolute essentials that can provide much relief during an afternoon walk in Africa. I generally don't leave the house without my umbrella during Namibia's summer season. Shielding yourself will make walks under the African sun so much more bearable.
Warm Weather is Safer
Studies have shown that death rates are higher in cold climates. People who have easy access to heat & good housing may not be as affected, but for those who are struggling, the winter & cold weather could be a killer.
The traditional male Arab dress is a long white tunic, a sleeveless cloak and a distinctive headcloth. The tunic is loose fitting, allowing air to circulate, preventing sweat from evaporating too quickly and slowing dehydration in hot, dry air.
Ancient Technique: The first and most obvious technique was to avoid the heat of the day all together. Bedouins would seek shade on top of a dune to catch any passing winds and remain cool during the day. Travel was then conducted at night, using the stars and significant landmarks for navigation.
Stay away from dark colors
The hot weather usually calls for fun under the sun, heading out to the beach and feeling the cool sand under our feet, but spending hours under the sun makes our body temperature rise, so you can either take a dip in a pool or sea or take a cold shower.
Stay in an air-conditioned indoor location as much as you can. Drink plenty of fluids even if you don't feel thirsty. Schedule outdoor activities carefully. Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and sunscreen.
Use a fan to increase air flow and accelerate sweat evaporation. These tend to work to at least 39℃. Misting fans also work well as water settles on the skin and subsequently evaporates, taking body heat with it. Alternatively, you can spray your skin with water and sit in front of a fan.
According to historical records, during the scorching summer, some people preferred to drink ice water, some boiled perilla leaves, and liquorice as summer soup to keep off the heat. Ancient people also loved to make lotus seed soup in summer which was said to have the benefit of strengthening the body.
Unlike humans, dogs can't sweat through their skin and so they rely on panting and releasing heat through their paw pads and nose to regulate their body temperature and keep cool.
By staying in the shade, limiting activity to cooler times such as night and using your available water, your chances for survival increase greatly. Sipping water does not get it to the brain and vital organs. Take a good drink when you need it. People have been found dead from dehydration with water in their canteens.
Raymond says the highest wet-bulb temperature that humans can survive when exposed to the elements for at least six hours is about 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius). Wet-bulb temperatures are on the rise around the world, and Earth's climate has begun to exceed this limit.
Get wet. If it's a scorching hot day, one of the most efficient ways to cool down is to have a cold shower or go swimming. The beach is free and local pools are generally quite cheap to attend, too.
It could be fatal. It is commonly held that the maximum temperature at which humans can survive is 108.14-degree Fahrenheit or 42.3-degree Celsius.
Porches and Awnings.
Porches and awnings both act as blocks from solar radiation, resulting in cooler internal temperature. “Sleeping” porches to sleep outside during warmer summer months (popular in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods) were another way to enjoy a cooler experience.
The Ancient Egyptians used architectural design for conditioning air. They created natural ventilation within buildings to keep them cool inside. They also used an evaporative cooling method by hanging wet reed mats over doorways and windows.
Ancient cavemen and people of early civilizations used nature to help them stay cool. For example, in Egypt, people would put wet reeds in windows and as the breeze passed through the reeds it cooled the breeze and lowered the temperature in their homes. This idea was the precursor for the modern day swamp cooler.