Stay Cool Despite the Heatwave!

As many of you may have heard, the temperatures in the Northwest hit an all time high last week. However, the two states most affected by the rising temperatures, Washington and Oregon, are not new to this type of sudden temperature increase. There have been random heatwaves that have affected the states for longer periods of time, such as the blazing heatwave of 1981, which left the Portland International Airport in Oregon an incredible 107° F record high. Yet the city of Medford, OR, was able to beat that record as it reached a staggering 108° F on Tuesday! As a result of this extreme heat, cooling centers have been opened all over both states to help bring citizens relief from the excruciating hot weather.

For those of you who prefer to cool off at home, here are some tips on how to stay cool this summer:

• Keep your curtains closed when you're out of the house!
• Avoid alcohol! It doesn't cool your body; in fact, alcohol dehydrates your body.
• Use a portable air conditioner or a swamp cooler instead of your normal air conditioning unit. This saves you a lot more energy and even more money! Some of these units can even be used as a heater, so you can use them year round.
• Wear clothes made of cotton! Heat is retained in synthetic material.
• Stay in your basement (if you have one) during the afternoon. They are usually 10° to 15° cooler than the rest of your house!
• Use a dehumidifier to control your humidity levels! Not only will it make your air less humid, but it will also help you breathe in cleaner, healthier air.
• Use a fan to cool down if you're not at home often! This will bring down your utility costs and help save you money.
• Eat smaller meals throughout the day, and avoid protein as much as you can. Protein increases metabolic heat in your body!
• Don't take cold showers! Your body generates more heat afterwards to make up for the loss of heat.