It will be short but intense. The new episode of heat wave should raise the mercury in certain departments beyond 40 degrees: Rhône, Ardèche, Drôme, Isère, Savoie and Haute-Savoie were placed on heat wave orange vigilance this Wednesday. And who says heatwave says sunstroke, heatstroke, dehydration, fatigue, headaches, cramps, with more or less serious consequences that can go as far as death.
In addition to the classic tips for better withstanding the heat (wear loose, bright, cotton or linen clothing; avoid the hottest hours and make efforts; drink regularly; use a mist sprayer, etc.), here are 5 simple tips and effective in cooling you down, whether at home, on your journey or at the office.
1. Douse yourself with water… in the right places
If it seems obvious to get wet to cool off, you still have to know where to aim. Because to be effective, it is best to target the pulse points or pressure points, where the blood vessels are closest to the surface. Run water for at least 10 seconds on:
- the temples
- the inside of the elbows
- behind the knees
- the inside of the elbows
This should help bring your temperature down faster.
2. Amplify Wind Chill
To do this, two things: a fan and a fogger.
- Step 1 : spray face and/or body.
- 2nd step : run the fan.
Simple and effective: Indeed, the combination of humidity on the skin and wind chill (otherwise the feeling of cold produced by the wind on a warm-blooded body without variation in the temperature of the ambient air) makes it possible to lower the perceived temperature. And that’s also why in winter, it’s colder when it’s windy and/or when it’s wet.
If you’re at home, amplify this effect by taking a cool shower before drying off in front of the fan.
3. Wet her hair
We don’t think about it enough, but this simple gesture quickly and lastingly provides a feeling of healthy freshness.
4. Wear a wet hat/headband
For a long lasting effect, complete with a hat/cap if you are outdoors or a headband indoors. Otherwise, a handkerchief or a scarf previously cooled in the freezer gives a pleasant effect.
5. Invest in a mini fan
Yes, this little device allows you to ventilate without milling, unlike the fan. Useful for cooling down, the fan ends up warming up since our wrists are the motors… which therefore end up heating up. For a double cooling effect, you can place two bottles of water previously cooled in the freezer in front of the blades of the fan. Guaranteed freshness effect!
Ventilator and Covid-19
The fans, air conditioners or foggers pose no problem from the point of view of exposure to the risk of Covid-19 if you are at home and there are no sick people in your home. However, they are not recommended in the community. Because “en creating a significant air movement, the fan will project the respiratory droplets emitted by people from a distance into the room and render the safety distance between people inoperative” explains the High Council for Public Health.
Read also:
- Heat wave: how to cool off at work
- Infographic: real and false good ideas in the face of the heat wave
- The coronavirus does not mix well with the heat wave
- Extreme heat: symptoms not to be overlooked