As the USA, the UK and parts of Europe and Asia suffer through record-breaking heatwaves, Australians have come forward with their seasoned advice on how to survive extreme temperatures.
In a Reddit thread posted in the Australia subreddit, a UK-based user asked: "Temperatures are going to hit 39C/102F in London in the next few days. You fine, Aussie folk are more used to it than me, so has anyone got any tips on how not to melt?"
In the comments, Australians offered up their expert tips for keeping yourself and your loved ones safe during summer. Here are some of the best responses:
1. "Read up on the signs of heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses. Maybe stick a dehydration pee chart in the bathrooms."
—u/jekylphd
2. "I have dealt with many mid-40s days without air con by making a tea towel damp and freezing it. If you have two, you can always have a nice cold one on your head and another re-freezing."
3. "If you can, hang tarps or shade cloth from your eaves, so that the sun doesn't hit the walls. This will stop your walls from heating up and retaining the heat into the night. If you've got a tile roof, climb up on the roof early in the morning and take a couple of tiles out, some at the peak of the roof, and some down low near the edges. This will ventilate your roof cavity so that the heat can't build up in there."
—u/wotmate
4. "Be very, very aware of your water intake. I moved to Australia from Wales when I was 4 and nearly died of heatstroke within a week. Drink at least 2 litres per day."
—u/Crypt1cccc
5. "Hopefully there is something similar to Zooper Doopers — frozen cordial in plastic tubes — which are great to keep cool."
6. "Cooling scarves are amazing. Not sure if they’re common in the UK, but outdoor shops stock them here. You wet them; they're super cold and wrap around your neck. My husband runs a mechanic workshop, and I make sure the team have them every summer. They are amazing."
"Loads of people have suggested wet towels/shirts, but I recommend wet sarongs as they don’t soak your chair/mattress and are lightweight."
—u/mimestra
7. "It's a good idea to set up wildlife and bird bath water dishes. It can take animals days or weeks to find and trust them, so the sooner the better. If you use any dish more than a couple inches deep, put a rock or stick in it so any animals that fall in can climb out."
—u/RavinKhamen
8. "Freezing damp towels is the best tip — even just positioning a couple around you on a bed is usually enough to cool you down sufficiently to fall asleep on a hot night."
"This is a godsend. As is dunking your feet in a bucket with ice."
—u/shewasher2
9. "Get pedestal fans if you can; drape wet tea towels over them. It increases the humidity, and the air flow dries the sweat that the humidity creates, cooling you down. Drape a wet cloth over the back of your neck. Drink plenty of water. Keep ice packs in the freezer for people who start feeling ill from the heat and give them water."
"Avoid caffeine and alcohol as these dehydrate you. Take your shoes off indoors if you can. Turn off all unnecessary electrical stuff as these generate heat. Block as much sun from getting into buildings as you can, and open up all the windows at night to let the cool air in."
10. "Ice baths are the best for lowering core temperatures. Making lots of ice is a lifesaver, especially when humidity is high. Pass this tip on to elderly relatives. Anyone forced to work outside over 35C, you should call your union or health and safety inspectorate."
—u/kenbewdy8000
11. "Close up your place with curtains closed and as early as possible. Go anywhere that's air conditioned, like shopping centres, cinemas, somewhere there is a sea breeze — if possible. Put wet towels in front of open windows or fans once the inside temperature is hotter than outside. Don’t forget, pets gets really heat-stressed too."
—u/Cheezel62
12. "If you know older or vulnerable people who are suffering, find a shopping centre, museum, or a library, anywhere that has cooling air con and take them there. In Australia, our shopping centres are cram-packed with people not shopping, but keeping cool. Even a park or near a river is cooler, so long as you are covered up."
"If you get a headache, become irritable or notice that your heart is racing, drink something cool and if you can, take a cool shower or bath — you may be experiencing heatstroke."
13. "Run the inside of your wrists under cold running water from time to time. If you are having trouble falling asleep, a cool shower can help. The worst thing about a heatwave is the lack of relief overnight, resulting in less/poor sleep. A mild over-the-counter sleeping tablet can be a godsend."
—u/Branthroc
14. "This sounds like common sense, but I'm always shocked at the amount of Aussies I see doing the opposite in the height of summer — ONLY take your dog out for a walk in either the early morning or evening. Avoid the middle of the day at all costs. Pets will often feel the heat even worse than you, so make sure they've got plenty of water, a cool place to relax, and watch for signs of heatstroke."
—u/wllj
Frozen tea towel on a hot dawg ☀️🐶 https://t.co/G0gte7PFYN
15. "Electronics emit heat, so turn off what you don’t need. Cold shower before bed. Bamboo sheets. Open window at night to let the cooler air in and close again in the morning."
—u/nexus9991
16. "If you are in a building that gets direct sunlight through the windows, that's heat just pouring in. Keep your blinds closed as much as possible. If you can manage it, put a layer of foil on the glass and then a layer of cardboard or a sheet behind that, then the blinds — each layer will cut down the heat coming through, and your active cooling methods will be more effective."
—u/Fortressa-
17. "Accept that children won't be able to get shit done if it's over 35C and no air con. Prepare a movie day for them with the lights off. We only had air conditioning in our library when I was in school, and there was a super hot day we all tried to pile in there. We sat on the floor and did nothing."
"Pack two water bottles that you've left in the freezer overnight for access to cold water throughout the day. Drink more water than you think you need; you will get headaches easily in that heat."
—u/thelunchroom
18. "Eat cold foods, and don't spend too long cooking with an oven or stove. You don't want the house to heat up. Ice blocks, ice creams, and jelly are your friends. They'll help you cool down. Limit alcohol; it'll just make you dehydrated."
With the heatwave hitting the UK this week, please spare a thought for everyone whose mother will be making salad for tea every day.
19. "If you get an evening breeze, try to channel it through your house. A fan is very helpful, even if it doesn't cool. Wet your clothes; squeeze out excess moisture; sit in front of the fan in them."
—u/auntynell
20. "Don't power through the hottest part of the day outside; it's a good way to get heatstroke. Have a plan on where to kill time at least on part in the cool. Back when I was a kid and we didn't have air con, the movies were a good way to spend several hours in the cool. If that won't work out, make sure you have at least a fan. A spray bottle of water to give your face a squirt when you are in front of a fan is refreshing. Not as great if it's going to be humid too. Good luck!"
—u/Kelshandra
21. And finally: "Slip, slop, slap, seek, slide."
"Slip on appropriate clothing.
Slop on sunscreen.
Slap on a hat.
Seek shade.
Slide on a pair of sunglasses."
—u/thejugglar
If you're living in an area currently being affected by a heatwave, make sure you stay cool, hydrated, and check in regularly with vulnerable loved ones. If you have any other tips for keeping cool, please share them in the comments below.
Reddit responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.