DC's a bit of a ghost-town right now, I know that lots of people are on vacation, but beyond that there's a significant majority that's choosing to be outside as little as possible. It is pretty damn hot, and will likely continue to be so. I can't say always I enjoy it, but I don't feel entitled to complain, either - the weather does what it does. I haven't turned on my air-conditioning yet, but am grateful for my fans and that I live in an apartment building built in the 1950s and designed to stay cool.
And granted, I'm privileged enough to get to choose to work outside, when many people have to work outside, but I figured this would be a good time to share tips and tactics on how to get by, working in the heat.
For what it's worth, here are mine:
-Stay natural, skip the air-conditioning. I know, this isn't an option for everyone. I grew up in Jamaica, during a time when pretty much no-one used A/C - it got hot, but people got by. And I worked a few summers at a camp without A/C, got by fine until I came home for a weekend and would get chilled. The hot/cold/hot transition makes summers brutal - the human metabolism slowly optimizes to the prevalent temperature, whether cold or hot. If you're going to be working outside in the heat, minimize the temperature transition between your outside time and inside time.
-Carry a cooler with cold water and ice. If you have a freezer, you don't ever have to pay for ice. Keep a stock of plastic bottles filled with water in your freezer, and use them to keep your cooler cold. 1/2 a gallon should last you the day, more will keep you cooler. If you run out of cold water, tap the frozen bottles - they'll melt gradually, or you can set them out to melt faster, or you can add water to the bottles to cool the water as the ice melts.
-Follow the shade. Work with a wide-brimmed hat if at all possible, my current preference is for a straw hat. Chose your worksite based on when the shade is where, and if there's any way you can make shade where you're working, take the time to do so - a tarp, or one of those portable shade tents may be a good investment. Shade gives you ten degrees off, which can keep you working better longer.
-Start early, finish early. Best time to work is sunrise to when the world gets hot. If at all possible, book your hard labor for before the sun comes down on you.
-Sunblock and sun protection. You probably need to be back on the job tomorrow. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants (loose thin cotton works well) if possible, otherwise make sure you keep using sunblock.
-If you get burned, take care of it. Aloe Vera is the best cure - keep a plant or two going at home. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants until you're recovered. Religious use of sunblock can keep the burn from getting worse, but you're best off not getting burned.
-Drink Drink Drink. If you're sweating, have a drink every 15 minutes. My preference is for water, soft drinks have no value, gatorade or other "sport drinks" have some virtue, but pay attention to how they affect you. The salts are helpful, but the sugar crash isn't worth the short burst of energy, it's better to...
-Keep snacking, especially if you're doing hard labour. Peanuts and raisins are a cheap energy core, quick to hand, and they'll keep you going. You want uncomplicated carbs and proteins - potatoes, yams, pasta, brown rice, with vegetable accents to keep the palate going, and meat if you need it - keep it all cold in your cooler. Avoid manufactured sugars. Chilled fruits, eg peaches, apples, watermelon...are amazing on a hot day. Carry salt with you and use as needed - you're losing a lot in your sweat. It's easy to lose your appetite when working in the heat, but you have to keep your engine going!
-Take breaks. Sit in the shade for 5 minutes. Breathe. Be aware of where your body is, and what it's telling you. Stop and let your sweat cool you. Take your lunch break in a cool place, this is a time when air-conditioning can be helpful.
-Watch the people around you. Notice how much they're drinking. Pay attention to their patterns. If they're flushed, sweating excessively, confused, emotional, fatigued, get close to them. Find a way to get them drinking water, and resting in a cool place. Some people are very committed to working through physical challenges, and won't appreciate your concern for their wellbeing. They may be more willing to slow down in deference to your limitations. Pull that card if you need to.
-Stop when you have to. Don't let others drive you past your comfort zone. You'll lose a lot more time and productivity getting 911'd for heat exhaustion or worse, than you would for stopping when you need to. If you're working in anything approximating a semi-professional work environment, they will acknowledge the importance of your saying "I'm concerned for my health and need to stop and cool down". If not, you need to be much more careful/aware of your physical well-being and ration your energy expenditures.
Any other suggestions/comments?