1.- Fans are to be used to cool off people, not a room.
Fans don't make rooms colder, that is what air conditioners are for. Many commit the mistake of simply putting a fan in the room and hoping the room will get cooler, but this does not happen unless the air itself is cold. The only way it will make you cooler is if it is aimed at you directly to fan off your body heat that accumulates around you, especially when it is humid, as it has been lately.
[p]Aiming a fan directly at you will not make you sick or harm you
during the day. At night, avoid a fan pointing directly at you (have it oscilate) because your body temperature decreases at night and air could make your throat and eyes dry.
2.- Ice cream, water, and icepops are a double edged sword.
No matter how cold the food is, they generate lots of heat because of the milk and sugar they contain, and will only cool your mouth. They may psychologically make you feel cooler, but not really. Water based popsicles are better than icecream, but only in moderation.
[p]3.- Iced coffees and beer won't really cool you down.
Similar to icecream and popsicles, avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol, no matter how cold
[p]it is. Both dehydrate the body and only elevate the body's temperature. If you can't avoid it then make sure to drink one or two classes of water as well. Or, better yet, drink a cold fruit water.
4.- What about ceiling fans?
Yes and no, and it depends on how it is used. The problem with ceiling fans is that they simply move hot water from the roof to the floor at you, not really cooling at all. It would be better for you to open the window, change the direction of the fan and have it pull air in from outdoors.
[p]If you don't have a/c at home, go to places that do such as restaurants, offices, and the movie theatre. Staying at home with high temperatures and humidity is dangerous, especially for the elderly, infants and ill people.
5.- Not any type of clothes or colors will keep you cool.
You'll need light or white clothing, but also cotton clothing to not only beat the heat but the humidity as well.
6.- Don't stop drinking water, even if it is room temperature.
Even if room temperature doesn't appear to make you feel cooler it is important to stay hydrated.
More news at SanDiegoRed.com
Follow San Diego Red on Facebook and Twitter.
jose.sanchez@sandiegored.com
