Heatwave survival handbook: Tricks to keep you cool
It's that time of year again: temperatures soaring above 40°C in parts of Europe, sofas turning into sticky traps, and sleeping feeling like an impossible mission. And let's not forget the most overheard phrase in any elevator: 'It's hot, isn't it?' Yes, the heatwave is here and it's not going anywhere anytime soon.
But before you commit to worshipping your fan like a household deity, let me share a few hard-earned tricks from many summers spent on scorching pavement. You can survive the heat - and even enjoy summer - without having to sell a kidney to pay your electricity bill.
Turn your home into a heat fortress
Forget that your house is an oven. With a little strategy, you can turn it into your own private shelter. You don't have to have air conditioning, it just takes a little ingenuity.
This is commandment number one: be smarter than the sun. Wherever sunlight shines, heat follows, so during extreme heat, keeping things dark is your best defence.
Bunker mode during the day: As soon as the sun starts to intensify (usually around 11:00 a.m. or noon), lower all the blinds and close the curtains and windows. It's tempting to crack a window to "let in some air," but all you'll get is a wave of hot air. Keep your home in comfortable, cool semi-darkness instead.
Night-time cross-ventilation: This is where the real magic happens. When temperatures drop at night—even just a little—open windows at opposite ends of your home to create a natural cross-breeze. If you live in a flat, try opening one window facing the street and another facing an interior courtyard. You'll notice the difference!
A fan on its own just circulates warm air, which isn't ideal for cooling a room. But with a few smart tweaks, you can turn it into an effective cooling system:
Your body: pamper it so it doesn't suffer
Keeping the house cool is key, but you also need to take care of your own internal thermostat so that you can get through these hot days in the best possible way and without suffering from heatstroke.
Warning signs not to ignore to avoid heatstroke
Let me pause for a moment because this is very important. Heat is no joke and heat stroke is a very serious medical emergency. Learn to recognise the signs.
What does it feel like?A sky-high fever (over 40°C), red, hot and dry skin, a very intense headache, dizziness, nausea and/or confusion. If you or someone around you has these symptoms, do not hesitate to:
Especially keep an eye on young children and the elderly, who are the most vulnerable. With these tips and a bit of common sense, this heatwave will be just another summer anecdote, so take care of yourself!
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8 hours ago
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Heatwave survival handbook: Tricks to keep you cool
It's that time of year again: temperatures soaring above 40°C in parts of Europe, sofas turning into sticky traps, and sleeping feeling like an impossible mission. And let's not forget the most overheard phrase in any elevator: 'It's hot, isn't it?' Yes, the heatwave is here and it's not going anywhere anytime soon. But before you commit to worshipping your fan like a household deity, let me share a few hard-earned tricks from many summers spent on scorching pavement. You can survive the heat - and even enjoy summer - without having to sell a kidney to pay your electricity bill. Turn your home into a heat fortress Forget that your house is an oven. With a little strategy, you can turn it into your own private shelter. You don't have to have air conditioning, it just takes a little ingenuity. This is commandment number one: be smarter than the sun. Wherever sunlight shines, heat follows, so during extreme heat, keeping things dark is your best defence. Bunker mode during the day: As soon as the sun starts to intensify (usually around 11:00 a.m. or noon), lower all the blinds and close the curtains and windows. It's tempting to crack a window to "let in some air," but all you'll get is a wave of hot air. Keep your home in comfortable, cool semi-darkness instead. Night-time cross-ventilation: This is where the real magic happens. When temperatures drop at night—even just a little—open windows at opposite ends of your home to create a natural cross-breeze. If you live in a flat, try opening one window facing the street and another facing an interior courtyard. You'll notice the difference! A fan on its own just circulates warm air, which isn't ideal for cooling a room. But with a few smart tweaks, you can turn it into an effective cooling system: Your body: pamper it so it doesn't suffer Keeping the house cool is key, but you also need to take care of your own internal thermostat so that you can get through these hot days in the best possible way and without suffering from heatstroke. Warning signs not to ignore to avoid heatstroke Let me pause for a moment because this is very important. Heat is no joke and heat stroke is a very serious medical emergency. Learn to recognise the signs. What does it feel like?A sky-high fever (over 40°C), red, hot and dry skin, a very intense headache, dizziness, nausea and/or confusion. If you or someone around you has these symptoms, do not hesitate to: Especially keep an eye on young children and the elderly, who are the most vulnerable. With these tips and a bit of common sense, this heatwave will be just another summer anecdote, so take care of yourself!
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