What can you do about the heat?

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Here is a quick cheat sheet for handling extreme heat, broken down by what you can control right now:

1. Cool Your Body (The Quick Fixes)

Target the pulse points: If you are overheating, don’t just splash water on your face. Apply ice packs or cold, wet cloths to your wrists, neck, temples, and the insides of your elbows. The blood vessels are closest to the skin there, which helps cool your bloodstream faster.
Hack your hydration: Drink water before you feel thirsty. If you are sweating heavily, plain water isn’t enough—you need electrolytes. Mix in a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon, or grab an electrolyte drink to prevent fatigue and cramping.
The “wet sheet” trick: If it’s too hot to sleep, dampen a top sheet or a large towel with cold water and wring it out thoroughly so it’s just lightly damp. Use it as a blanket; as the water evaporates, it pulls heat away from your body.

Block the radiation: Keep windows, blinds, and curtains completely closed during the hottest parts of the day (usually 11 AM to 4 PM). You want to stop the greenhouse effect before it starts.
The DIY air conditioner: Set a shallow bowl or pan of ice directly in front of a box fan. The air passing over the ice will pick up the chilled moisture, creating a noticeably cooler breeze than a fan just pushing warm air around.
Create a cross-breeze at night: Once the outdoor temperature drops below your indoor temperature, open windows on opposite sides of your home. Place one fan blowing out of a window on the warm side of the house to exhaust the hot air, and another fan blowing in from the cooler side to draw in fresh air.