Hot Weather Effects The temperatures are stifling, with an ongoing record-breaking heatwave due to the effect of nearby typhoons with temperatures reaching 38°C in some areas of HK. Indoor temperature when the AC is off reached 39°C in my room despite cross airflow from fans and opened windows. Air Conditioning I’ve always been a person who tries to reduce air-con use when I can, inspired by the infamous HK meteorologist and environmentalist, the ex-Hong Kong Observatory Director Lam Chiu Ying, who uses only fans to keep his home cool. Because I tend to get cold easily, being in an air conditioned place for long periods doesn’t exactly feel good to me. Fans, windows, and the dehumidifier are my friends. If only lüften would bring in some cooler fresh air in the mornings… because it doesn’t in this kind of weather; the temperatures overnight remain high. There are huge, undeniable consequences of global warming and climate change. Persistent, unrelenting high temperatures cause damage to the wel-being and health of everyone—both physically and mentally. I hope everyone stays cool, hydrated, and aware of the dangers of the scorching heat! General Tips Make use of evaporation to cool down by misting Try to get some crosswind air flow going If possible, use a dehumidifier to dry the environment as it helps with evaporation of sweat, cooling the body Get some reusable ice packs to help the body cool down initially when going to sleep, around the neck, forehead, or under armpits A fan near the end of the bed that oscillates can help cool the feet/lower extremities Consider getting some window films that help block heat from entering the home and close the blinds/curtains Turn off unused electrical appliances as they generate heat Have a few more cold water showers during the day Get some isotonic sport drinks or oral rehydration salts for when sweating becomes excessive to replenish salts lost If you start to have symptoms of heat stroke, please get help immediately—it can be life threatening. Further Reading Summer Heat and Its Effect on the Brain How Climate Change Affects Our Mental Health, and What We Can Do About It | Commonwealth Fund What are El Niño and La Niña? | National Ocean Service Heatwaves | WHO Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion | NHS [For up-to-date content, visit BurgeonLab directly (XML feeds don't fetch updates in real-time). For topic-specific feeds, visit /subscribe. Thanks for reading my blog using a RSS reader!]