Keeping Cool in Extreme Heat

Cologne’s response to the scorching summer in Germany involved launching a ‘Cooling Cologne’ initiative. The city disperses chilled groundwater through fine mist sprays using fire hoses to counter the heat. This practical approach exemplifies how communities adapt to rising temperatures.

Readers Share Their Cooling Methods

NPR readers provided insights into personal strategies for staying cool without relying on air conditioning. These ingenious solutions are shaped by past experiences and family traditions.

Cooling with Water

Bridgit Jordan from Minneapolis cools down by swimming and staying in her wet swimsuit for the evening, accompanied by a fan. Olivier El Mekki in France uses his bathtub as a personal plunge pool, bathing briefly to combat the heat. Inspired by cows’ behavior in the summer, he finds this method effective.

Amber Thompson recalls taking showers before sleeping during hot Syrian nights. Elizabeth Tillinghast remembers her mother advising them to cool their wrists under cold water, which quickly circulates cooled blood through the body.

Playing with Water

Ezra Musselman from Minnesota reminisces about using cold well water for playful cooling activities with his siblings. Dayton Bradford remembers numerous swimming holes in Tennessee, while Barbara Wunder McAslan used a kiddie pool for a quick cool-off in Florida.

Fans and Air Flow

Diane Hinkle grew up using a box fan to draw in cool night air. Chaudhry Awais Ahmed in Pakistan uses a damp towel with a pedestal fan to create an evaporative cooler effect.

Cool Fashion Tricks

Mary Richardson from Los Angeles suggests an ice-filled headband, doubling as relief for migraines. Amy Barlow Liberatore uses gel scarves for prolonged cooling. May Bolden’s husband uses ice vests with insertable packs for outdoor work. Kimberly Wasylina cools her face with a wet washcloth and ice cubes, carrying them using a fanny pack. Pat Manly dampens his shirt in a bucket for quick cooling during Arizona’s extreme heat, although it was less effective in humid climates.

Don’t Forget Your Furry Friends

Joan Sheehan from Sacramento uses cold packs to offer relief to pets during hot days.

Shade, Structures, and the Outdoors

Jim Gillen from Portland recommends minimizing concrete to reduce heat, suggesting alternatives like trees and garden beds. He recalls families escaping heat by sleeping outdoors, a practice echoed by others who found comfort sleeping on decks or in yards.

Gina L. Freeman improved her home’s cooling by adding awnings and blackout curtains. Amber Thompson’s Syrian summers involved practical adjustments, like removing carpets and sleeping on tile floors or balconies.

Musselman cherishes memories of sleeping on porches or in tents during Minnesota’s hot summers, finding enjoyment in the outdoor sounds and starry skies.