I live in the UK, but our summers are getting hotter, and I’m struggling with profuse sweating and mild dehydration.

If you are or were a student in Australia, Mexico, southern USA, Spain, Portugal, Greece, South Africa, or any other hot parts of the world, how do/did you stay cool during the day?

Note: I am familiar with the idea of a siesta; this is not an option.

If the solution is clothing, I don’t really care about gendered clothing. If it fits and looks good, it’s fine.

Thanks!

EDIT: For context, I am a student who is specifically having trouble during the school day, so AC systems and curtains aren’t viable either. It’s really clothing and strategy that I need to think about.

  • lps2@lemmy.mlEnglish
    2·
    2 years ago

    Grew up in the southern US and just spent a couple weeks in the Philippines:

    • cold drinks
    • fans
    • lightweight, breathable clothing

    That’s about it - the sweat is unavoidable

  • blujan@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    2·
    2 years ago

    I live in Chihuahua, Mexico, where it usually means dry heat so pretty much anything works but it also means you can use a thing called swamp coolers that pretty much just increase humidity by humidifying air and shooting it quickly. They are incredibly efficient.

    Sad part is when it gets humid (in monsoon times) it really doesn’t sufice, so an AC is required or just remove as much clothing as possible.

    Clothing does help a lot with dry heat, you can use thin fast-drying clothing and that helps evaporate sweat which takes away most heat. Again in humid heat you really can’t cool unless you dehumidify with an AC (which is incredibly efficient the more humid the area is, and can be inverted to be used as heaters for much cheaper than gas or normal resistive electric heaters).

    In the UK I think your best bet is a reversible heat pump.

  • Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    American southeast here (Florida, Georgia, Alabama). Humidity is the problem for me, you’ve gotta get the air moving when it’s like a sauna out there. Doesn’t work great, but if you stay still you start dripping sweat and soon you’re completely soaked but it’s not cooling.

    If you can’t move the air, move yourself. Stick to the shade, but take a walk.

    And drink drink drink.

  • Firipu@startrek.websiteEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Time also helps. The longer and more you spend in the heat, the more you get used to it. Your body will adapt.

    I come from the cold north and live in a tropical area now. The heat used to kill me. It still does 15y later, but I can handle it much better than before.

  • arbiter329@lemmy.mlEnglish
    0·
    2 years ago

    Run cool water over your forearms.

    If you have a bucket of ice water you can dunk your arms in for extra effect.

    Helps cool you down pretty quick.