It’s official. Summer has finally hit us between the eyes. The first of May had us embracing 60-degree mornings, some much needed rain, and a decent enough breeze to keep the humidity at bay. June comes along and puts a halt to all of that. With the hot temperatures and high humidity like we have down here in the south, it’s time to get prepared.
Heat affects us all. And it doesn’t just make us sweat. It can affect us physically, mentally, and emotionally. Whether we want to or not, we can’t avoid it, so we need to learn how to handle it to the best of our ability.
It isn’t really difficult to get ready for summer; you just have to plan ahead a bit. Today we’re going to be talking about how you can stay cool, as well as how to help your elderly neighbors and animals beat the heat.
There is one thing I strongly believe in, and that is if you don’t take care of yourself first, you won’t be in any shape to take care of others. So, to help you beat the heat, here are a few tips you can use. Most of these you may already know, but it never hurts to be reminded:
1. If your job is trying to maintain a farm or other at-home jobs, shift your hours. Get outside just as it’s getting daylight. Pay attention to the path of the sun and do the chores on the shady side first. As the sun passes through the sky and that area loses its shade, move to the next shady area.
2. Hydrate. Make sure you drink plenty of water BEFORE you go outside. And whether you like it or not, avoid caffeine-laden drinks – coffee, sodas, even energy drinks, before and while you are working outside. I may enjoy my iced tea, but I switch to decaf in the summer months. Caffeine is considered a diuretic and contributes to loss of hydration. Also, don’t drink ice-cold drinks. The coldness causes your blood vessels to constrict and limits the hydration intake. Make it just a cool drink.
3. Take plenty of breaks. All too often we believe that if we aren’t working, we’re either lazy or not being productive. That isn’t true. Our bodies need the break, even more so when we’re in the extreme heat. You’ll actually do less work, and more than likely less quality work if you get too hot. It may take a bit longer to complete the task at hand, but it’ll help you keep going.
4. Wear a hat, sunscreen, cooling neck wrap, and light weight clothes. If you don’t have a neck wrap, try carrying a small ice chest. Place a couple of bandanas in the ice water. Wring it out loosely, then wrap it around your neck and head and change them out frequently.
5. Eat sensibly. Try fruit, nuts, leafy greens – even avocados. They help to replace the electrolytes you lose while sweating. Oranges are my go-to fruit in the summer. They’re a great energy boost and seem to even reduce my body temperature a bit. And did you know that the Vitamin C in citrus may also help prevent heat related skin issues?
6. Consider putting off the jobs that require heavy lifting to the fall and winter months, if possible. If you can’t, then try and schedule them for the cooler hours of the morning.
7. If all else fails – head inside, grab a good book and park yourself in front of a fan or the air conditioner. Or, better yet, work on some of those handmade Christmas gifts you want to make for the upcoming holiday season.
We aren’t the only ones who suffer from extreme heat. Our elderly neighbors do too. One way we can be a caring neighbor is to find ways to help them beat the heat.
1. If you know someone who is getting up in years, make it a practice to check on at least once a week, or more often if possible.
2. Do a quick ‘temperature’ check. See if they have air conditioning, or at the very least, a fan. Unfortunately, some of our elderly are on a serious fixed income, and cannot afford some ‘luxuries’, even if those items are a necessity. Check with your local Council on Aging, television and radio stations, and other volunteer organizations. Find out if they are giving out free fans for the elderly.
3. Do they have family close by? If they do, ask if you can get their name and phone number in case of an emergency. If they don’t, ask if they would mind writing down an emergency contact list that includes the name of their physician.
4. If they are mobile, but unable to drive, offer to take them to run errands. Do this early in the morning when the temperatures are lowest. You can also offer to treat them to breakfast while you are out. Often, just a simple meal out can lift the spirits of someone who spends most of their days confined to their homes.
Part of living a simple life means taking time out of your busy schedule to help others. And ‘others’ can also mean your animals.
Most importantly, water is the #1 consideration, just as it is for humans. If they are an inside pet, it’s a little easier. But if they live or spend most of the day outside, then this is the time to check their supplies more frequently. Here are a few things that may help:
Empty and refill water bowls at least three times a day and keep the water in a shady spot. During the heat of the afternoon, add ice cubes to the water. Be sure to give the bowl a good scrubbing at least two or three times a week – if not daily - as warm water promotes algae.
Consider placing a baby pool in a shady spot for your dogs to get in and cool off, and bring them inside during the extreme heat of the day – or at the very least make sure their pens are in a shady part of the yard and has good ventilation and air circulation.
Set up a sprinkler or misting system. We even set up sprinklers for the cows, and they love playing in the cool water. It also helps us to water the pastures.
And about that fur. You may think you are being helpful by shaving dogs with longer fur. Instead, you may just be making things worse. A dog’s fur acts as a heating and cooling system. In the winter, the fur lays flat and acts as insulation. In the summer, it ‘fluffs up’, if you will, to allow for air circulation. Some dogs, such as Great Pyrenes, Labs, and Chows, have a double layer of fur that acts as insulation in the winter, and gives a cooling effect in the summer. So put your clippers away and give them a good brushing to help get rid of the loose fur if they’re shedding.
For those of you who have chickens, all of the water tips above work for them as well. To tell if your chickens are too hot, watch for the tell-tale signs. If they are ‘panting’ (open beak, labored breathing), this is a sure sign. They will hold their wings away from their body. This allows for air circulation. Worst case scenarios are signs of lethargy, not eating and not drinking. Here are a few more ways to keep your feathered friends cool:
Fan Them. We use a box fan and secure it in a window. This helps with air circulation and lessens at least the worst of the heat. I have to laugh, though. I often find my chickens on the roost at midday. And they have positioned themselves in front of the fan!
Give your Chickens a Bath – if you do see extreme behavior, grab your chicken and give it a bath. Submerge it up to the neck in cool but not ice cold - water. This helps to bring the body temperature down.
Leave it in the water until it begins to revive. From that point forward, keep a close eye on it, just in case. It may be more susceptible to heat and may need another bath or two.
Put fruit in an ice cube tray and cover it with water. Once the cubes are frozen, add a few of them to their water bowls. It helps to keep the water cool and gives them a fresh treat in the process.
For those of you who have cattle, one of the ways I help keep my cows cool is by using my clothesline. I keep several old sheets handy. In the early afternoon, I soak the sheets in cool water, then hang them on the line. The cows love to walk through them to cool down. If you don’t have a clothesline in the pasture, consider using a rope strung between two trees.
Now for one of the ‘animals’ that can be the most difficult - Your Spouse or significant other. If they get too hot, they can behave like animals! Humans can be just as susceptible to heat related issues. Cool them down with something cold to drink.
Have a Honey Do list that consists of inside chores for them to work on during the heat of the day. Tell them to go take a nap. Or just have them sit in the cool, read a good book or work on a project. Remind them that the chores will still be waiting once the sun starts going down.
Let’s face it. The summer heat can be unbearable for humans and animals alike. Rather than ‘sweat’ the heat, use some of these tips to help keep you cooler during the summer. And who knows? By the time fall gets here, you may have all of your Christmas presents made, wrapped, and ready to go under the tree. And with all the time you save, you can then look forward to really enjoying your holidays!
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Thanks again for stopping in. I will see you next week on Living a Simple Life with a Back Porch View. And while you are waiting for the next episode, grab that glass of refreshment, pull up a rocker, and sit back for a while. It’s time to relax and enjoy.
