Tips to Help Beat the Shreveport Heat

"Everyone complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it."  Because this quote was used several times in many of his humurous lectures, it is usually attributed to Mark Twain, but Twain was actually quoting Charles Dudley Warner. Triple digit temperatures... we're all dealing with it... and the excessive heat shows no signs of abating anytime soon. But there are things you can do to help deal with these high tempatures.

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Here are a few simple tips to help deal with this heat

1. Make sure your ceiling fan is running counter-clockwise during the summer to circulate the cool air downward.
2. Turn your blinds upward to reflect the sunlight out, or even use drapes or curtains to block the direct sunlight.
3. Limit the use of your stove-  Use your microwave oven or air-fryer to heat or prepare food.  This will help keep your house cooler, as well as save energy. (If you have an electric oven)
4. Take a shower- Taking a shower can help your body cool down, and if you let your hair air-dry, you can extend your 'cooling period' a little bit longer.
5. Drink lots of water- This may seem like common sense, but it's surprising how many people don't drink enough water during the day. How much water should you drink each day?  According to the Mayo Clinic:

The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is:

• About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men
• About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women

These recommendations cover fluids from water, other beverages and food. About 20% of daily fluid intake usually comes from food and the rest from drinks.

What about the advice to drink 8 glasses a day?

You've probably heard the advice to drink eight glasses of water a day. That's easy to remember, and it's a reasonable goal.

Most healthy people can stay hydrated by drinking water and other fluids whenever they feel thirsty. For some people, fewer than eight glasses a day might be enough. But other people might need more.

You might need to modify your total fluid intake based on several factors:

• If you do any activity that makes you sweat, you need to drink extra water to cover the fluid loss. It's important to drink water before, during and after a workout.

• Hot or humid weather can make you sweat and requires additional fluid. Dehydration also can occur at high altitudes.

• Overall health.Your body loses fluids when you have a fever, vomiting or diarrhea. Drink more water or follow a doctor's recommendation to drink oral rehydration solutions. Other conditions that might require increased fluid intake include bladder infections and urinary tract stones.

• Pregnancy and breast-feeding. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, you may need additional fluids to stay hydrated.

6. Make a DIY Air-Conditioner- This is a simple way to cool yourself.  All you need is a bowl, some ice, and a fan... yup... it's that simple... fill the bowl with ice and place it in front of the fan.  As the ice melts, it creates cool air that the fan blows in your direction.

Some other safety tips to consider, please make sure your pets have plenty of clean, fresh water available, as well as protection from the direct sunlight. And check on elderly neighbors to make sure they are dealing with the heat, and are staying safe and cool.