Here are 5 things you should know.
1. This is how to survive extreme heat without air conditioning.
Knowing how to handle extreme heat in environments without air conditioning can save your life. As temperatures continue to rise, having this information might mean the difference between life and death.
(Evening) As soon as the outside is the same temperature or cooler than the inside, open as many doors and windows as possible. Try to increase airflow from outside to inside as much as possible. Cross breeze is best but not always achievable.
(Morning) As soon as the outside temperature is as hot as the inside temperature close every door and window, and block out as much natural light as possible. Cardboard works great for blocking light and providing insulation. If you can find something reflective like car windshield screens, all the better.
Evaporative/swamp coolers are effective up to a surprisingly high ambient humidity, but if the water stops evaporating they can be worse than nothing at all. Here’s a simple evaporative cooler that uses stuff most people already have. There are many other more effective methods that are not as simple. https://youtu.be/gT-suY9wTuE
Ice is your friend. Wet towels in the freezer, water bottles, food storage containers, and even zipper bags. DO NOT put too much non-frozen stuff in your freezer at once. It will thaw everything and freeze nothing. About 3 liters every hour is good for a larger-sized freezer, approx 20 cu ft. Exceeding that amount might result in nothing freezing, and everything thawing.
Spray bottles make great misters. Mist is great in low humidity, but counterproductive if it’s not drying. The same goes for outside. Mist on a roof or wall is great for cooling a structure that is not well insulated as long as the water is still evaporating.
Don’t move around a lot. Don’t spend hours cooking or doing hot dishes or using hot electronics and tools.
Hammocks are amazing. Anything that can allow air to pass beneath you is better than something solid or insulated. Flat surfaces are better than cushioned surfaces. The floor is probably the coolest place in the house.
Wear lightweight, light-colored, completely covering, and baggy clothing in the sun. If you have a wide-brimmed hat, use it. Even if you will only be out in sun for a short time. If you will be exposed to breeze in shade, baggy clothing will hold sweat but allow it to evaporate and can actually be cooler than no clothing.
Drink plenty of water, but make sure you are also drinking electrolytes. Refrigerated or iced water is pleasant. FAILURE TO DRINK ELECTROLYTES WHILE CONSUMING LARGE QUANTITIES OF WATER CAN RESULT IN HYPONATREMIA.
Easy electrolyte formula
- 1 liter of water
- 1/8 tsp epsom salt (as often as needed)
- 1/8 tsp non-iodized salt (as often as needed)
- 1/4 tsp potassium chloride/salt substitute/no-salt (daily maximum)
*If using this recipe more than once in a day, use potassium chloride only in the first dose.
Be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Have a plan to treat and find help for yourself and anyone who might be vulnerable near you.
A cool bath can rapidly reduce body temperature in the event of an emergency.
Make sure to check on friends, family, and vulnerable neighbors regularly. Confusion is a common symptom of heat exposure and may lead to poor decision-making.
Stay safe out there.
2. If a person changes their behavior towards you in a negative way, you should not ask a question centered around you, but rather one centered around them.
For example, someone becomes distant, rude, or angry with you and you don’t know why. Sometimes your first instinct is to ask a question like “Why are you angry with me?”
Any “why….me” question is an especially poor choice because it both shows you’re the center of your concern and makes the assumption that whatever is going on with them has something to do with you. This is not always true and having to explain that would just be an additional frustration to the person.
Even if you were to revise the question to eliminate the accusation/assumption, such as: “are you angry with me?”. This puts them on the defensive because you are making them explain their recent behavior and actions in regard to you, when they could, in fact, have absolutely nothing to do with you. It also communicates that you’re not really concerned with them, but how they are treating you and how they are affecting you.
What you should ask instead: “Are you ok?” This lets them know that you noticed something was off with them and that you are concerned for them, not yourself.
Often times people change their behavior towards you due to factors that have absolutely nothing to do with you. They don’t need you troubling them with your feelings on top of their own, and they may need you to help them through whatever the real problem is. We are all human and sometimes let our problems bleed into other aspects of our lives. This should be interpreted as more of a cry for help than an assault on others.
3. justwatch.com tells you all the platforms a movie is streaming on.
Instead of finding a movie and then searching Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Tubi, etc, use justwatch.com it shows you every platform the movie is available on.
It separates the platforms between free, subscription, and renting/for buying, along with the prices for each platform. Save a lot of time knowing instantly whether you have it or not.
4. Gaff (gaffer’s) tape is similar to duct tape but leaves no sticky residue. It is commonly used in film and audio industries for taping cables down, holding things together, or as labels for marking information.
If you’ve ever used duct tape on carpet or to wrap/organize cables and then noticed a sticky residue upon removal, you’re a good candidate for using gaff tape instead. It’s more expensive at about $0.40 (USD) per foot or $20 for a 2″x50′ roll compared to about $0.05 per foot. But if you are frustrated with sticky residues from tapes and can afford it, it’s worth the lack of frustration.
5. The first six numbers on your debit/credit card are public information.
An experience shared: “Just had a call from a scammer that called “About some activity on your checking account” He then identified the card by the first six numbers, which are used to identify your bank and not your account specifically. In other words, they’re not unique, unlike the last four numbers.
You should just hang up and call the number on the back of your card. If there is any fraudulent activity, they will be able to confirm it and help you block your card and protect your money.”
